Melissa Croden defeated Daria Zheleznyakova via unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the bout 29-28. The victory returns Croden to the win column after suffering a loss in December of last year. Zheleznyakova now holds a 2-2 record inside the UFC following the defeat. The post notes that Zheleznyakova started the fight well despite losing the decision. The close scorecards suggest a competitive bout throughout all three rounds.
Melissa Croden returned to winning ways on April 18, 2026, defeating Daria Zheleznyakova by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the contest 29-28.
Croden, now 8-3-0, bounced back from a loss suffered in December of last year to claim the narrow victory. The 35-year-old orthodox fighter stands five-foot-nine with a 68-inch reach and brings a well-rounded offensive game to the cage, landing 4.1 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also adding a takedown threat of 1.02 per 15 minutes. The win demonstrates her resilience and ability to grind out close fights when tested.
Zheleznyakova entered the bout with prior UFC experience to draw on, but the defeat drops her to 2-2 inside the promotion. Despite losing the decision, she reportedly started the fight well, making life difficult for Croden in the early exchanges and contributing to the competitive nature of all three rounds.
Why it matters
- Croden arrests a losing skid and re-establishes herself as a credible presence in her division
- Zheleznyakova falls to .500 inside the UFC, putting added pressure on her next outing to stay on the roster
- The 29-28 scorecards across the board reflect a genuinely close contest that could easily have gone the other way, underlining how tight the competition is at this level
