Russian fighter Daria Zheleznyakova successfully made weight at 61.69 kg (136 lbs) for her women's bantamweight bout against Melissa Croden at UFC Winnipeg. Croden came in slightly lighter at 61.46 kg (135.5 lbs). Both fighters are now official for their preliminary card matchup. The weigh-in confirms Zheleznyakova is ready for competition. This represents another opportunity for the Russian fighter to compete in the UFC octagon.
Both fighters made weight Thursday ahead of their women's bantamweight preliminary card clash at UFC Winnipeg, with Daria Zheleznyakova coming in at 61.69 kg (136 lbs) and Melissa Croden checking in slightly lighter at 61.46 kg (135.5 lbs). The matchup is now officially confirmed.
Croden, a 35-year-old Canadian fighter standing five-foot-nine with a 68-inch reach, carries an 8-3 record into the bout. Fighting out of an orthodox stance, she lands 4.1 significant strikes per minute at a 48 percent accuracy rate and averages 1.02 takedowns per 15 minutes, showing a well-rounded approach that blends striking with a grappling threat. Her submission numbers are not a factor statistically, making her takedown game more of a control-oriented tool than a finishing one.
Verified database records for Zheleznyakova were not available at publication time, though the Russian fighter's successful weight check confirms she is cleared and prepared to compete in the UFC octagon.
Why it matters
- Croden's combination of output volume and takedown activity gives her clear paths to victory on the scorecards
- Zheleznyakova's ability to manage the grappling exchanges figures to be a central factor in how the fight plays out
- A win for either fighter on a UFC main card event carries value for positioning within the women's bantamweight division
