Career Averages - Melissa Mullins
Career Averages - Daria Zhelezniakova
Melissa Mullins
Daria Zhelezniakova
Melissa Mullins - Fight History
Angelo picks Luana Carolina because she is the better striker with solid takedown defense (68%). He notes Melissa Mullins is too hittable with no head movement and her offensive wrestling is not great. He believes Luana should win everywhere and is surprised she is the underdog, expecting the line to flip.
Big Brady picks Melissa Mullins despite her terrible fight IQ, noting that she has a massive advantage on the ground with nasty ground and pound. He points out that Luana Carolina has been taken down in her last eight fights and that Mullins should be able to take her down and control her. However, he is hesitant because Mullins often refuses to wrestle and instead tests her striking, as seen in her last fight. He predicts a decision win for Mullins.
Cody agrees, noting Mullins' weight misses and lack of heart. He expects Carolina to win.
Connor picks Melissa Mullins, agreeing that you take the grappler in this matchup. He notes that Mullins is relentlessly aggressive with takedowns and ground control, while Carolina is a volume striker who can be beaten by grappling. Connor also advises against betting on this fight.
Daniel Vreeland picks Luana Carolina to win by decision. He cites her experience and striking prowess, but acknowledges she can be taken down. He expects Carolina to get back to her feet and outpoint Mullins over three rounds.
Daniel leans Carolina due to her experience and ability to weasel decisions. He notes Mullins has head-scratching moments and can be finished. However, he acknowledges it's women's MMA and the British fighter might have crowd support.
James picks Luana Carolina but is not confident. He thinks Carolina is the better striker and has more UFC experience, but her takedown defense is a concern. He notes that Mullins has poor fight IQ and may not shoot takedowns consistently. He predicts a decision win for Carolina.
The host is hesitant but leans towards Luana Carolina. He notes that Mullins has a grappling advantage but questions whether she will actually wrestle after failing to do so in her last fight. He believes Carolina's striking edge and improved defensive grappling could lead to a decision win. However, he admits he has underrated Carolina in the past and sees this as a potential breakout performance.
Paul picks Carolina, citing Mullins' poor durability and tendency to quit. He expects Carolina to outwork and finish Mullins.
The MMA Guru picks Melissa Mullins over Luana Carolina, though he admits neither fighter has been impressive. He notes Mullins is younger and may show more improvement fight to fight, while Carolina hasn't done much lately and has lost to lower-level opponents. He seems uncertain but goes with Mullins.
Zane picks Melissa Mullins, reasoning that in a matchup between a relentless grappler (Mullins) and a volume striker (Carolina), you take the grappler who can control the fight. He notes that Mullins is aggressive with takedowns and ground control, but if she can't get takedowns, she's cooked. Zane advises not betting on this fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Mullins | 0 | 99 of 223 | 44% | 103 of 228 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 64 of 148 | 43% | 77 of 165 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa Mullins | 0 | 44 of 95 | 46% | 46 of 98 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 26 of 68 | 38% | 33 of 77 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:42 | |
| 2 | Melissa Mullins | 0 | 35 of 65 | 53% | 35 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 20 of 40 | 50% | 25 of 46 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:08 | |
| 3 | Melissa Mullins | 0 | 20 of 63 | 31% | 22 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 18 of 40 | 45% | 19 of 42 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:05 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Mullins | 99 of 223 | 44% | 67 of 172 | 32 of 51 | 0 of 0 | 98 of 220 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 64 of 148 | 43% | 43 of 124 | 12 of 14 | 9 of 10 | 61 of 144 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa Mullins | 44 of 95 | 46% | 37 of 81 | 7 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 43 of 93 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 26 of 68 | 38% | 21 of 63 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 26 of 67 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | |
| 2 | Melissa Mullins | 35 of 65 | 53% | 19 of 45 | 16 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 35 of 65 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 20 of 40 | 50% | 14 of 33 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 20 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Melissa Mullins | 20 of 63 | 31% | 11 of 46 | 9 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 62 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 18 of 40 | 45% | 8 of 28 | 6 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 15 of 37 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Mullins (-278), Zheleznyakova (+225)
Round 1
With their bout already hinted at in the previous match, Mullins (7-1, 2-1 UFC) and Zheleznyakova (9-2, 1-1 UFC) will run back a match from Ares 9 in 2022 where Mullins pulled off the last-second TKO that some referees might have let go to the bell. Any doubt is about to be removed from the equation as these two bantamweights rematch, and referee Rich Mitchell is on top of the action. Gloves are quickly touched, but Zheleznyakova wants to get her hands on her opponent and does just that immediately. The Russian goes to the head and body, and she beats Mullins to the punch with a straight right hand when splitting apart. Zheleznyakova stings Mullins with a combination, and Mullins’ face is red and taking shots in a hurry. Mullins shoots desperately after getting hurt, and Zheleznyakova shoves her away and continues punching her in the face. Zheleznyakova disengages and finds her way forward with two looping hooks. Mullins catches Zheleznyakova on her way in with a right hand that turns Zheleznyakova’s nose red, but Mullins’ whole face is already crimson. Zheleznyakova swings a right hand that buzzes the jaw, and she goes to the body after to keep things flowing. Mullins pushes her away with a front kick, and she drills Zheleznyakova with a left hand but gets caught on the way back. Both women show facial damage after less than half a round, and Mullins stuns her opponent with a crisp right hand. Mullins stands in the pocket and nails Zheleznyakova with an uppercut, backing her opponent up and rifling off a left hand. Zheleznyakova circles and swings hard, knocking Mullins’ head around but not discouraging her from entering. Three more punches from Zheleznyakova connect clean on the Brit’s jaw, which still holds up under fire. Mullins meanders forward, bounding away from a few punches but sitting down on her right hand. Zheleznyakova misses on a few blitzes, and Mullins backs her off with a clean jab. Mullins puts three hands on her foe, dislodging Zheleznyakova’s gumshield. Mitchell grabs it and hands it back to the women, who take a moment to figure out who lost it. Zheleznyakova replaces it, and Mullins knocks it right back out on the restart. Mullins bullies her opponent to the floor, standing in half guard and sitting down into mount. Mullins snatches up an armbar in a moment, rolling over to lock it down. Zheleznyakova stays tight to stop the submission from hyperextending her limb, making it to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Round 2
The women tap their gloves together, and they proceed to trade jabs. Mullins pushes out a front kick to the ribs, staying out of range from the Russian’s long punches. Mullins stays in the center of the cage, hopping out of the way of the offense of her foe and clipping Zheleznyakova with a right hand. The right hand causes immediate damage, as Zheleznyakova’s left eye starts swelling up fast. Zheleznyakova tries to pay her back with an overhand right, but it is not nearly as powerful. Mullins flicks out her jab, and she hammers the front leg with a kick. Zheleznyakova crashes in swinging, and Mullins stands her ground and pops her with an overhand right. When Mullins goes to the lead leg again, she stumbles back and inadvertently avoids the counters soaring past her. They jab at one another, and Mullins eventually follows one with a two. Zheleznyakova swings wide a few times, her mouth wide open, and she finds her bearings and tags Mullins with a trio of punches. Zheleznyakova reaches out with a right hand and follows with a left on the jaw, and she backs Mullins off with a few punches and appears to frazzle Mullins with a body shot, who bends over. Zheleznyakova springs into action, spraying punches every which way including some towards Mullins. As Zheleznyakova lays into her opponent, Mullins grits her teeth and tackles the Russian to the mat. Zheleznyakova keeps her arms wrapped around Mullins to shut down any offense, and Mullins explodes with 15 seconds left to get into top position. The round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Round 3
The bantamweights touch ‘em up as they reach the last round, and jabs from both sides come again to start off. Zheleznyakova does not bite on a faked takedown effort, and she swings with a left hook but misses the mark. Zheleznyakova strings four punches together, rattling around her rival’s head, and she does not eat any counter as Mullins’ offense dwindles. Zheleznyakova jabs the body and goes upstairs with a right hand, and Mullins sees another one of those combos coming and parries it. Zheleznyakova mixes it up with a right to the body and a left to the dome, and Mullins defends by keeping her elbow up hoping that the Russian will walk into it. Mullins kicks her opponent’s front leg a single time, with Zheleznyakova appearing to have a second wind as she is the one pushing the pace, her face a swollen and busted mess. Mullins’ visage is not any better, and Zheleznyakova pins two punches on it to make it worse. The Brit connects with a body kick and then targets the sternum with the ball of her foot, and jumps to anticipate a strike that does not come. The jabs open up Mullins’ nose, which might be leaking from both nostrils. Mullins drops down for a single, and Zheleznyakova turns to the side and is dragged back down. Zheleznyakova defends a takedown by grabbing the fence, and Mitchell yells at her. The foul saving her from going down, she is able to bound off her knees instead and keep her back to the fence. Zheleznyakova pushes her away with 45 seconds to spare, and she gets right in Mullins’ face with her jabs and twos. The two ladies trade it out until the final horn, and they embrace after 15 minutes of bloody combat.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova (29-28 Zheleznyakova)
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Mullins (29-28 Mullins)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Mullins (29-28 Mullins)
The Official Result
Darya Zheleznyakova def. Melissa Mullins via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Melissa Mullins, but with caveats. He notes that Melissa is not great but should win, and that Daria has questionable takedown defense. He mentions that Melissa won their first fight by submission after losing on the feet, but both have evolved. He trusts Melissa more due to recent activity, but acknowledges Daria's striking power and the risk of a finish.
Big Brady picks Melissa Mullins, noting her vicious ground and pound and grappling advantage. He acknowledges that Zheleznyakova was winning the first fight on the feet before Mullins got a late takedown and TKO. He worries about Mullins getting hit but thinks one takedown could be enough. He predicts Mullins wins by second-round TKO, as she prefers TKOs over submissions.
The host notes this is a rematch from November 2023 where Mullins battered Zheleznyakova from top position and got a first-round stoppage. He doesn't see this fight going any differently and expects Mullins to get a TKO within two rounds.
The MMA Guru picks Melissa Mullins, citing her aggressive pace and ground-and-pound. He criticizes Daria Zheleznyakova's lack of skill and notes her striking on the back foot is not sustainable. He predicts a second or third round TKO via ground-and-pound for Mullins.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Mullins | 0 | 38 of 60 | 63% | 54 of 85 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:46 |
| Klaudia Syguła | 0 | 12 of 32 | 37% | 22 of 42 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:04 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa Mullins | 0 | 12 of 25 | 48% | 17 of 32 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Klaudia Syguła | 0 | 9 of 21 | 42% | 19 of 31 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:04 | |
| 2 | Melissa Mullins | 0 | 26 of 35 | 74% | 37 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:04 |
| Klaudia Syguła | 0 | 3 of 11 | 27% | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Mullins | 38 of 60 | 63% | 36 of 58 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 29 of 40 |
| Klaudia Syguła | 12 of 32 | 37% | 5 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 7 | 12 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa Mullins | 12 of 25 | 48% | 11 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 13 |
| Klaudia Syguła | 9 of 21 | 42% | 3 of 13 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 6 | 9 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Melissa Mullins | 26 of 35 | 74% | 25 of 34 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 27 |
| Klaudia Syguła | 3 of 11 | 27% | 2 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Mullins (-238), Sygula (+195)
Round 1
A lot has been said about this UFC Vegas 100 card, one that has transformed significantly on fight week and diminished in the eyes of most spectators. They’re not wrong, but they are viewing it in the incorrect lens: rather than a standalone slate of combat, it should be considered the early, distant appetizers to UFC 309 next week. That might help. The first of this palate-warming platter of matchups comes outside of standard weight classes, because Mullins (6-1, 1-1 UFC) could not hit the 136-pound limit properly. She surrenders 20% of her earnings to debuting Polishwoman Sygula (6-1, 0-0 UFC) in an all-Euro battle of *bantamweights. Referee Chris Tognoni will keep things on the up-and-up going forward, and he clocks the ladies in as they bump fists. Sygula paws out a few punches and a kick while Mullins walks her down, and she gets off another leg kick as she finds suitable targets. Sygula’s reach advantage allows her to peck at her opponent in the early going, with Mullins unwilling to pull the trigger in the first minute beyond some range-finders. A half-hearted body kick comes from the woman from Poland, and she lets her hands go behind it. A stern left hand marks up Mullins’ right cheek, who walks forward and pitches uppercuts. Sygula jabs the head and body, springing away from a low kick and jumping forward to deposit one and wing a right hand. The two clash together, resulting in a body lock takedown attempt for Sygula. She hunts for trips and tries to get her foe down, but Mullins keeps her balance by hopping back and forth to put her back to the cage. Mullins turns Sygula’s momentum against her, hitting a head-and-arm throw to dump Sygula on her head, but Sygula is able to climb back to her feet and wrap her arms around Mullins’ waist. Mullins turns the tables, spinning around and pulling off a trip to put Sygula on her back. Mullins lands in half guard, with the Brit maintaining top control rather than looking for anything significantly offensive. Mullins steps over to three-quarter mount to land a single strike, and Sygula drags her back to half guard. Mullins opens up with a few short right hands on the forehead, and when the 10-second clapper sounds, she leaps into mount and pummels Sygula with punches and elbows. As Sygula turns to her stomach, she gets elbowed in the back of the head, and the round ends.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Round 2
The women clap hands before engaging, and Sygula wants to trade and trade she does almost immediately. Sygula strings a few punch combinations together, but all this does is open her up to grappling. Mullins ties her up and completes an easy body lock takedown, and this time, she is in mount almost immediately. Mullins drops down a 12-6 elbow—it’s legal, don’t forget—and she starts slugging away.
Sygula turns over, and Mullins controls her right arm to take away a shield. Mullins jackhammers her downed opponent with left hand after unanswered left hand, and the damage begins to mount as she busts Sygula’s nose open. Tognoni implores Sygula to fight back, and Mullins pours it on knowing the finish is right around the corner. Her powerful, effective left hands finish the job, and Tognoni has no choice but to wave the fight off.
Mullins, who is thrilled to bounce back from her first loss in big way, hurries to her corner and breakdances.
The Official Result
Melissa Mullins def. Klaudia Sygula R2 1:20 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Melissa Mullins because she is stronger and more physical, and he believes Klaudia Syguła will not be able to defend takedowns. He notes Mullins has power and is a BJJ world champion, though her takedowns aren't great. He worries about Mullins ending up in the clinch where Syguła can do work, but overall expects Mullins to be too strong. He wishes the line were closer as Mullins is a wild favorite.
Big Brady likes Mullins's path to victory through her top game and ground-and-pound, noting Syguła's low level of competition and poor ground game. He is concerned about Mullins being hittable on the feet but believes she can take Syguła down and do damage. He would not lay -240 but still picks Mullins by third-round TKO.
Cody picks Mullins based on her better competition and ground game, despite her poor UFC debut. He notes Syguła's weak regional record and lack of notable wins. Cody expects Mullins to get the fight to the mat and win, but with low confidence.
Connor picks Mullins, describing her as aggressive with a plan to break opponents down and submit them. He contrasts Syguła as directionless and more guesswork. Connor notes Mullins is a finisher at heart, while Syguła wants a pretty fight but isn't capable. He thinks Mullins will have the first word and win.
Daniel Vreeland picks newcomer Klaudia Syguła as a live dog, noting her striking enthusiasm and potential improvements since her last fight. He questions Melissa Mullins' takedown ability and durability, citing her weight miss and losses. Vreeland believes Syguła can win if she avoids being ground out.
Mullins is expected to showcase better control and takedowns, staying out of Syguła's submission-heavy style. She should grind out a decision win on the scorecards.
Paul is leaning towards Syguła as a dog, citing Mullins' poor performance against Nora Cornolle. He thinks Syguła's striking might be enough if she can avoid takedowns. Paul admits it's a low-confidence pick and is passing on betting it.
The Guru picks Melissa Mullins, citing her grit and takedown ability. He criticizes Klaudia Syguła's poor striking and believes she is only in the UFC because she is attractive. He expects Mullins to mix in takedowns and win by ground and pound or decision.
Zane picks Mullins, agreeing with Connor. He describes Mullins as a fighter who wants to clinch and take the fight to the ground, where she can get aggressive. He notes Syguła has shown better striking but against poor opposition, and when pressed, she clinches like Mullins. Zane thinks Mullins's aggression and drive will prevail.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nora Cornolle | 0 | 11 of 24 | 45% | 13 of 28 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 5:20 |
| Melissa Mullins | 1 | 36 of 51 | 70% | 60 of 83 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:30 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nora Cornolle | 0 | 7 of 17 | 41% | 8 of 20 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 3:22 |
| Melissa Mullins | 0 | 19 of 28 | 67% | 30 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:15 | |
| 2 | Nora Cornolle | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 5 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:58 |
| Melissa Mullins | 1 | 17 of 23 | 73% | 30 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nora Cornolle | 11 of 24 | 45% | 9 of 21 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 21 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Melissa Mullins | 36 of 51 | 70% | 17 of 28 | 13 of 17 | 6 of 6 | 19 of 29 | 15 of 20 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nora Cornolle | 7 of 17 | 41% | 6 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Melissa Mullins | 19 of 28 | 67% | 9 of 15 | 8 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 15 | 9 of 13 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Nora Cornolle | 4 of 7 | 57% | 3 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Melissa Mullins | 17 of 23 | 73% | 8 of 13 | 5 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 14 | 6 of 7 | 2 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dixon (-360), Cornolle (+285)
Round 1
Consider tonight’s event a dress rehearsal of next week’s gala event of UFC 300. The UFC will trot out 12 pairs of combatants inside of the UFC Apex to keep the seemingly indefinite streak of consecutive weekends going. It all begins with an international catchweight contest, as both fighters failed to make weight and the formerly bantamweight bout still stayed together. France’s Cornolle (7-1, 1-0 UFC) eclipsed the weight limit by 2.5 pounds while unbeaten Brit Mullins (6-0, 2-0 UFC) surpassed the 136-pound cap by two pounds herself. Fines likely went straight to the commission and promotion instead of to one another, but referee Chris Tognoni almost certainly did not get a bump in pay because of it. The two women, glad to still be fighting tonight, tap their gloves together. Cornolle starts right out of the gate throwing hands, and she gets Mullins’ attention very quickly. Mullins throws back with an overhand right that scores, but Cornolle is not concerned as she continues to swing. Cornolle double jabs her way in and follows it with two heavy right hands, forcing the Brit to press her up against the wall to slow things down. Cornolle muscles her way around and away from the fencing, and she sneaks in a short strike before Mullins drags her over to the other side of the Octagon. Mullins grinds and brings up a few knees to the thigh to stay busy in her position, and she uses a body lock to wrench Cornolle down to the mat. Mullins moves from half guard on one side to the other, with Cornolle preventing her from claiming full mount. Mullins stays heavy on top and tries to pin Cornolle’s elbow down, but Cornolle explodes and turns “No Mess” over. Mullins stands up, giving up her back, and Cornolle cannot keep her grounded or do anything with the position so she lets it go. Back in striking range, Cornolle lands a solid body kick after a few punches, forcing Mullins to rush at her and clinch again. Mullins has another takedown effort thwarted, and she works short elbows and knees on the inside. Mullins gives one back but takes several from the other end along with an elbow to end the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cornolle
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Cornolle
Round 2
There is a clap of hands to open the second round, and Mullins comes out of her corner as if she had a fire lit in her belly. Mullins strikes her way into a clinch situation, stifling the Frenchwoman’s offense early. Cornolle turns her about and elbows her, and Mullins spins her back around to push her back to the wire. Mullins keeps her jammed up as time ticks off the clock with little to show for it, with Mullins opting for control over any sort of effective offense. As the lack of action continues, the commentary booth harangues both women about failing to make weight. Cornolle eventually fights her way out and smacks her opponent with elbows and knees. Mullins measures her way in with a straight left hand, and Cornolle rebounds off with a body kick and two punches up top.
Cornolle drives a knee to the liver, and Mullins bends over, compromised from the body blow. Cornolle watches Mullins fold, and she boots her upside the head with her foot. Mullins wobbles back to the wall, trying to keep herself in the game, but Cornolle kicks her in the head again to force Mullins to turn around and physically surrender. As soon as Mullins drops to her knees, totally defeated, Tognoni steps in to save her from any further punishment.
Just like that, Mullins 0 has disintegrated, and Cornolle may be a ranked competitor at bantamweight next week despite missing weight.
The Official Result
Nora Cornolle def. Melissa Mullins R2 3:06 via TKO (Knee to the Body and Head Kicks)
Angelo picks Melissa Mullins because she is the more well-rounded fighter with takedowns if needed, and she showed she can get dropped but get back up and stay tough. He notes that Nora Cornolle is dangerous early but has terrible takedown defense and poor cardio. He cannot pick Nora hoping for an early knockout when she can't keep the fight standing. He advises not to spend money on this fight.
Big Brady picks Melissa Mullins to win by TKO in the second round. He notes that Mullins has a strong ground game and vicious ground and pound, while Cornolle has a hole in her takedown defense and ground game, as shown in her last fight against Joselyn Edwards where she was taken down repeatedly. Brady believes Mullins will get the fight to the mat and finish.
Cody also picks Mullins but is not enthusiastic. He notes Mullins's slow starts but her ability to build momentum and her strong top control. He thinks Cornolle is a low-volume fighter who was outwrestled by Joselyne Edwards. Cody believes Mullins's forward pressure and grappling will be too much, but the price is prohibitive.
Daniel Vreeland confidently picks Melissa Mullins, citing her dominant grappling and resilience. He notes Mullins has overcome bad spots on the feet, as seen in the fight against 'Russian Ronda', and can finish fights once she gets takedowns. Vreeland warns that if Mullins tries to stand and bang with Cornolle, it could be trouble, but expects her to stick to her game plan of taking the fight to the mat.
Mullins is a better fighter overall with dominant grappling and top control. Cornolle has holes in her game, especially takedown defense, as seen against Edwards. Mullins will control positions and likely find a TKO or submission in the second or third round.
Paul picks Mullins but hates the price. He notes Mullins is a slow starter but has great durability and top pressure, and that she takes over in rounds 2 and 3. He thinks Cornolle is a low-volume fighter who was arguably gifted a decision in her UFC debut. Paul suggests live betting Mullins after round 1 or taking her by decision.
The host dismisses both fighters as low-level, calling it an embarrassment to watch. He uses a mayonnaise bottle flip to decide, landing on Melissa Mullins. He notes she is younger and has more reach, but his reasoning is flippant and not serious.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Mullins | 1 | 48 of 108 | 44% | 60 of 126 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:50 |
| Irina Alekseeva | 0 | 52 of 95 | 54% | 87 of 148 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 8:15 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa Mullins | 1 | 30 of 60 | 50% | 37 of 70 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
| Irina Alekseeva | 0 | 23 of 37 | 62% | 32 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:26 | |
| 2 | Melissa Mullins | 0 | 8 of 20 | 40% | 10 of 25 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Irina Alekseeva | 0 | 12 of 21 | 57% | 24 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:43 | |
| 3 | Melissa Mullins | 0 | 10 of 28 | 35% | 13 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Irina Alekseeva | 0 | 17 of 37 | 45% | 31 of 56 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:06 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Mullins | 48 of 108 | 44% | 23 of 72 | 2 of 7 | 23 of 29 | 44 of 99 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 5 |
| Irina Alekseeva | 52 of 95 | 54% | 47 of 89 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 42 of 76 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 18 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa Mullins | 30 of 60 | 50% | 11 of 35 | 1 of 4 | 18 of 21 | 26 of 51 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 5 |
| Irina Alekseeva | 23 of 37 | 62% | 21 of 35 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 22 of 36 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Melissa Mullins | 8 of 20 | 40% | 2 of 10 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 8 | 8 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Irina Alekseeva | 12 of 21 | 57% | 12 of 20 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 8 | |
| 3 | Melissa Mullins | 10 of 28 | 35% | 10 of 27 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Irina Alekseeva | 17 of 37 | 45% | 14 of 34 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 10 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dixon (-148), Alekseeva (+124)
Round 1
The line moves forward with a women’s bantamweight tilt pitting Alekseeva (5-1, 1-0 UFC) against the undefeated Dixon (5-0, 0-0 UFC). Mark Smith serves as the referee. They touch gloves and get going. Alekseeva hammers away with kicks to the inside and outside of the lead leg. Dixon test the water with her jab, but eats a sweeping left hook. Dixon follows a jab with hooks from both hands. Alekseeva moves forward. Dixon fires a jab through her defenses. Alekseeva lands a knee strike from the clinch, then gets warned for pulling Dixon’s hair. Dixon lands in combination, all set up by her excellent jab. Alekseeva slings powerful but unfocused punches. She steps into a right hand, floors Dixon and jumps into full guard. Alekseeva drops elbows but allows Dixon to get back to her feet. Alekseeva shots on the hips and secures a takedown. Both women have had their moments with a minute left in the round, though the knockdown figures to be the separator. Dixon works her way to the back with ground-and-pound and secures her position with hooks.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Alekseeva
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Alekseeva
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Alekseeva
Round 2
Dixon blocks a head kick, eats an inside leg kick and gets going with the jab again. She doubles up on the punch, then cut loose with power punches. Alekseeva returns to swinging for the fences. Nothing lands. Back in the center of the cage, Dixon times a thudding right hand and then trips the Russian to the floor. She moves immediately to full mount and pounds away with punches, elbows and forearm strikes. Dixon floats to the back and secures position with hooks. She brilliantly uses a half nelson to maintain back control, piles up points with hammerfists and locks in a body triangle. Dixon moves back to mount, connects with an elbow and returns to back control. The newcomer may have found a clear path to victory here.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dixon
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dixon
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Dixon
Round 3
Dixon stars the final round with her jab, sneaks in a left hook and avoids a wild spinning backfist. Alekseeva presses forward and nearly surrenders a takedown. She looks exhausted. Dixon connects with a one-two. Alekseeva marches forward almost maniacally with straight punches. Dixon wearing considerable damage but appears to have the upper hand here. Alekseeva scores with a head-and-arm throw but fails to corral Dixon. The Englishwoman scrambles to her feet and secures a takedown of her own, then climbs to full mount. Half a round left. Alekseeva tries to bridge out but wastes valuable energy while doing so and ultimately fails. Dixon settles in mount, applies her ground-and-pound and fights through fatigue. Dixon moves to back control and peppers away with short punches, then threatens the neck. Alekseeva appears to have no fuel left in the tank. Dixon moves back to mount with 30 seconds to go and drops elbows, punches and hammerfists. It looks like Alekseeva will survive, but she eats more shots as the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dixon (29-28 Dixon)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dixon (29-28 Dixon)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Dixon (29-28 Dixon)
The Official Result
Melissa Dixon def. Irina Alekseeva—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo is confident in Melissa Mullins, praising her impressive striking and composure. He warns that she tends to initiate unnecessary clinches, which could play into Alekseeva's submission game, but he trusts her to keep distance and pick Alekseeva apart on the feet.
Big Brady picks Melissa Mullins to win by third-round TKO. He thinks the fight will be on the mat, where Mullins has good top control and ground-and-pound. He expects Alekseeva to slow down as the fight goes on, allowing Mullins to finish late.
Cody picks Mullins, citing her experience and well-rounded skills. He notes her takedown defense and ability to persevere, as seen in her win over an undefeated fighter. Cody believes Alekseeva is flashy but lacks substance, and that Mullins will take over as the fight goes on.
The host picks Melissa Mullins (referred to as Melissa Dixon) making her UFC debut. He praises her ability to close the pocket, get the fight to the ground, and maintain top control with great cardio. He expects her to finish Alexa in the latter half of the fight as Alexa slows down.
Paul picks Mullins, noting that Alekseeva missed weight in her debut and has not shown much. He believes Mullins has a more well-rounded skill set and that Alekseeva's only path is a quick submission. Paul expects Mullins to win a decision or get a late finish.
The MMA Guru picks Irina Alekseeva as an underdog over Melissa Mullins. He notes that Mullins is an undefeated prospect (5-0) but he doesn't trust undefeated women's prospects in the UFC, especially at age 32 making her debut. He criticizes Mullins' win over a 7-0 opponent, saying she was getting dominated before a premature stoppage. He believes Alekseeva has better standup and clinch strength, and has fought tougher opponents.
Daria Zhelezniakova - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Croden | 0 | 69 of 153 | 45% | 92 of 185 | 4 of 8 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 5:12 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 41 of 118 | 34% | 81 of 163 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa Croden | 0 | 15 of 46 | 32% | 15 of 46 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 14 of 40 | 35% | 22 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Melissa Croden | 0 | 27 of 56 | 48% | 31 of 61 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:39 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 14 of 45 | 31% | 20 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Melissa Croden | 0 | 27 of 51 | 52% | 46 of 78 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 1 | 0 | 3:17 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 13 of 33 | 39% | 39 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Croden | 69 of 153 | 45% | 51 of 121 | 12 of 24 | 6 of 8 | 43 of 115 | 17 of 25 | 9 of 13 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 41 of 118 | 34% | 30 of 100 | 7 of 14 | 4 of 4 | 35 of 106 | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa Croden | 15 of 46 | 32% | 9 of 35 | 4 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 13 of 44 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 14 of 40 | 35% | 9 of 31 | 2 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 11 of 36 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Melissa Croden | 27 of 56 | 48% | 21 of 44 | 2 of 7 | 4 of 5 | 20 of 43 | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 14 of 45 | 31% | 9 of 37 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 39 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Melissa Croden | 27 of 51 | 52% | 21 of 42 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 28 | 8 of 10 | 9 of 13 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 13 of 33 | 39% | 12 of 32 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 31 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Croden (-160); Zheleznyakova (+130)
Round 1
With a 100% finish rate still in her pocket, Alberta native Croden (7-3, 1-1 UFC)—quick note to all those who watched the Shillan & Duffy preview show for this one and thought this fight card was going down in the province of Alberta: tonight’s action is in southern Manitoba, just north of the shared border of North Dakota and Minnesota, two provinces to the right of Alberta. Croden will still be the favored athlete in the building of the two, as she faces off Russian striker Zheleznyakova (10-2, 2-1 UFC). The two bantamweights come to blows with referee Jerin Valel calling the shots, and they touch ‘em up before engaging.
It is all about the jab in the early going for the two bantamweights, with the two standing relatively the same size and presenting a similar fist-first style. Jabs lead to follow-ups, which leads to an unexpected trading of leather in the first 30 seconds. Croden thinks twice about throwing caution to the wind to just brawl and resets to work her way forward at her own pace. Zheleznyakova chops at her foe’s leg with a hefty kick and circles away from the power from the Canadian, dodging a head kick and stepping in to strike. Croden drives her away with a quick one-two, and Zheleznyakova still manages to get in her face with a single fist. They crash together and end up clinched, trading knees until they decide against doing this any further. It is not a mirror match, but it is fairly close to that. One after the other, they slug one another in the chops. Croden throws a hard right hand, takes one right back, and is amped up and tries to force “Iron Lady” into a brawl. Zheleznyakova does not oblige her, instead strafing to either side.
Zheleznyakova kicks low to swing high, and she moves all the way around the cage to time her way in with a short flurry. Zheleznyakova gets a front kick through the guard, and when she engages further, Croden ties her up to grapple. Croden bullies the Russian to the fencing, looking perhaps for a body lock. Zheleznyakova keeps circling away to her right, away from Croden’s power, and this includes breaking out of a clinch. Zheleznyakova checks a kick to sling a one-two, and she lets a head kick fly past her harmlessly. Zheleznyakova steps forward to bloody Croden’s nose with a one-two, and her movement is flustering the Canadian. Zheleznyakova tries to engage again in a quick blitz, and Croden stonewalls her and shoves her back. The deliberately paced round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Round 2
Zheleznyakova races out of her corner to engage as the second round kicks off, and she does so right into the fists of her waiting adversary. Croden welcomes this so she can score effectively, forcing Zheleznyakova to retreat very soon after she starts trading. Croden whiffs on four fast punches because Zheleznyakova is already out of range, and she is stuck chasing while blood leaks from her nose. Zheleznyakova keeps moving, racking up plenty of steps while avoiding the worst of what flies her way time and again. Croden walks into the occasional jab from the Russian, who is largely playing an avoidance-first game that may not be the most aesthetically pleasing from a “just bleed” perspective. Nearly a minute goes by without a significant strike landing, and then they crash together and drill one another in the face with a heavy punch. Zheleznyakova tries to put three after it, and Croden has no answers while her face is starting to transform because of the impact of the shots she is absorbing.
Croden runs after the Russian, chasing her around the cage to try to punch her. She does not let Zheleznyakova off the hook, busting her nose open in the midst of her punch salvos. Zheleznyakova turns tail and runs away, forcing Croden to eventually slow Zheleznyakova down by tying her up. Croden looks for a body lock and a trip takedown, but Zheleznyakova is able to stay on her feet. Zheleznyakova breaks free, and she beans the Canadian with a right hand flush on the temple. Both beaks are leaking, and Croden pays it no mind as she rushes forward to attack. Croden nails her foe with two elbows, and Zheleznyakova tries to run away but is trapped. The Russian grabs the fence to prevent a takedown, with Valel screaming at her to knock that off. On her second effort, Croden throws her down and knees her in the face and thigh on the way back up. Croden leans on her opponent, sneaking in elbows. Zheleznyakova pushes her back with her fists, so Croden slaps her in the face with the instep of her foot as the round wraps.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Croden
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Croden
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Croden
Round 3
Croden greets her opponent with raised arms to hug her, and then the last round begins. Zheleznyakova pumps out a one-two that shakes Croden up and instantly re-bloodies her nose again, and she sits in the pocket to jack her in the jaw with a left before circling away. Zheleznyakova bounces her way forward behind her jab, slipping back to dodge every counter. Croden lumbers ahead slinging a left hook, and she shells up to block a one-two but is nailed with three more punches when she tries to clinch. Zheleznyakova breaks off and turns to run and reset on her own terms, but Croden catches up with her and clinches her. Croden stays tight until Zheleznyakova shoves her away and pins her down with a one-two. Zheleznyakova swipes out with subsequent hooks when Croden follows her recklessly, but it is a trap for the Canadian. Croden ducks down to surprise Zheleznyakova with a tackling takedown, and Zheleznyakova grabs the fence to improve her position and stand back up while Croden’s team bellows about the uncalled foul.
In the meantime, Croden starts to hook up a standing arm-triangle choke, and Zheleznyakova tugs with both hands on the fencing to take some of the leverage out of it. Croden topples over with the choke to put Zheleznyakova flat on her back, and she releases the sub to start beating the Russian down with left hands and a questionable knee while Zheleznyakova was standing. Valel calls for a replay due to the strike, and Croden continues pressuring the increasingly bloodied Zheleznyakova in a vicious clinch exchange. Croden frames off with elbows and occasionally slashes them out to damage her opponent, and Zheleznyakova breaks off. Croden runs towards her and tackles her to the floor, climbing directly in mount so she can bash Zheleznyakova with elbows. Zheleznyakova sits up to try to turn things around but only gives her back up. Croden unloads with a final barrage of elbows and fists, but time runs out before she can secure the stoppage she was seeking.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Croden (29-28 Croden)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Croden (29-28 Croden)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Croden (29-28 Croden)
The Official Result
Melissa Croden def. Darya Zheleznyakova via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Melissa Croden but is cautious, acknowledging Daria is better than given credit for. He notes Melissa is the more technical striker and physically stronger, with a grappling plan B. He warns that Daria has power and could cause problems if Melissa gets tagged.
Big Brady picks Melissa Croden, emphasizing her nasty top game and clinch work. He criticizes Daria Zhelezniakova's poor ground game and takedown defense, noting she was submitted by Eileen Perez and TKO'd by Mullins. Brady believes if Croden takes the fight to the ground, she will finish with ground and pound, predicting a second-round TKO.
Cody picks Melissa Croden, citing her ability to mix in takedowns and the Canadian crowd support. He notes that both fighters are similar but Croden may edge it with wrestling and home advantage. He expects a close decision.
Connor picks Croden because she is more composed and determined than Zhelezniakova, who is a steady pot-shotter without the footwork or wrestling defense to stop a determined opponent. He notes that Croden can walk into strikes but isn't deterred, and her physicality should overwhelm Zhelezniakova if she fights smart.
James picks Melissa Croden to win via round three TKO. He expects Croden to weather early storms and take over late with her pressure and wrestling. He notes Zhelezniakova's camp issues and poor ground game.
The host expects Croden to be competitive in the striking but thinks she will clinch up, take the fight to the ground, and look for a submission. He highlights Croden's physicality and BJJ brown belt, and believes Zhelezniakova struggles against heavy grapplers. He recommends a sprinkle on the submission prop at plus 625.
Paul also leans towards Croden, expecting a close decision. He notes that Daria tends to bleed and that Croden may benefit from the judges. He likes the split decision prop.
Zane agrees with Connor, noting that Croden is like a less skilled version of Jasmine Jasudavicius but still knows how to implement her game. He points out that Zhelezniakova is a steady pot-shotter who lacks the tools to prevent a determined opponent from taking her out of her game, and Croden's physicality should be enough.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Mullins | 0 | 99 of 223 | 44% | 103 of 228 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 64 of 148 | 43% | 77 of 165 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa Mullins | 0 | 44 of 95 | 46% | 46 of 98 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 26 of 68 | 38% | 33 of 77 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:42 | |
| 2 | Melissa Mullins | 0 | 35 of 65 | 53% | 35 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 20 of 40 | 50% | 25 of 46 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:08 | |
| 3 | Melissa Mullins | 0 | 20 of 63 | 31% | 22 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 18 of 40 | 45% | 19 of 42 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:05 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Mullins | 99 of 223 | 44% | 67 of 172 | 32 of 51 | 0 of 0 | 98 of 220 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 64 of 148 | 43% | 43 of 124 | 12 of 14 | 9 of 10 | 61 of 144 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa Mullins | 44 of 95 | 46% | 37 of 81 | 7 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 43 of 93 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 26 of 68 | 38% | 21 of 63 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 26 of 67 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | |
| 2 | Melissa Mullins | 35 of 65 | 53% | 19 of 45 | 16 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 35 of 65 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 20 of 40 | 50% | 14 of 33 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 20 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Melissa Mullins | 20 of 63 | 31% | 11 of 46 | 9 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 62 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 18 of 40 | 45% | 8 of 28 | 6 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 15 of 37 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Mullins (-278), Zheleznyakova (+225)
Round 1
With their bout already hinted at in the previous match, Mullins (7-1, 2-1 UFC) and Zheleznyakova (9-2, 1-1 UFC) will run back a match from Ares 9 in 2022 where Mullins pulled off the last-second TKO that some referees might have let go to the bell. Any doubt is about to be removed from the equation as these two bantamweights rematch, and referee Rich Mitchell is on top of the action. Gloves are quickly touched, but Zheleznyakova wants to get her hands on her opponent and does just that immediately. The Russian goes to the head and body, and she beats Mullins to the punch with a straight right hand when splitting apart. Zheleznyakova stings Mullins with a combination, and Mullins’ face is red and taking shots in a hurry. Mullins shoots desperately after getting hurt, and Zheleznyakova shoves her away and continues punching her in the face. Zheleznyakova disengages and finds her way forward with two looping hooks. Mullins catches Zheleznyakova on her way in with a right hand that turns Zheleznyakova’s nose red, but Mullins’ whole face is already crimson. Zheleznyakova swings a right hand that buzzes the jaw, and she goes to the body after to keep things flowing. Mullins pushes her away with a front kick, and she drills Zheleznyakova with a left hand but gets caught on the way back. Both women show facial damage after less than half a round, and Mullins stuns her opponent with a crisp right hand. Mullins stands in the pocket and nails Zheleznyakova with an uppercut, backing her opponent up and rifling off a left hand. Zheleznyakova circles and swings hard, knocking Mullins’ head around but not discouraging her from entering. Three more punches from Zheleznyakova connect clean on the Brit’s jaw, which still holds up under fire. Mullins meanders forward, bounding away from a few punches but sitting down on her right hand. Zheleznyakova misses on a few blitzes, and Mullins backs her off with a clean jab. Mullins puts three hands on her foe, dislodging Zheleznyakova’s gumshield. Mitchell grabs it and hands it back to the women, who take a moment to figure out who lost it. Zheleznyakova replaces it, and Mullins knocks it right back out on the restart. Mullins bullies her opponent to the floor, standing in half guard and sitting down into mount. Mullins snatches up an armbar in a moment, rolling over to lock it down. Zheleznyakova stays tight to stop the submission from hyperextending her limb, making it to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Round 2
The women tap their gloves together, and they proceed to trade jabs. Mullins pushes out a front kick to the ribs, staying out of range from the Russian’s long punches. Mullins stays in the center of the cage, hopping out of the way of the offense of her foe and clipping Zheleznyakova with a right hand. The right hand causes immediate damage, as Zheleznyakova’s left eye starts swelling up fast. Zheleznyakova tries to pay her back with an overhand right, but it is not nearly as powerful. Mullins flicks out her jab, and she hammers the front leg with a kick. Zheleznyakova crashes in swinging, and Mullins stands her ground and pops her with an overhand right. When Mullins goes to the lead leg again, she stumbles back and inadvertently avoids the counters soaring past her. They jab at one another, and Mullins eventually follows one with a two. Zheleznyakova swings wide a few times, her mouth wide open, and she finds her bearings and tags Mullins with a trio of punches. Zheleznyakova reaches out with a right hand and follows with a left on the jaw, and she backs Mullins off with a few punches and appears to frazzle Mullins with a body shot, who bends over. Zheleznyakova springs into action, spraying punches every which way including some towards Mullins. As Zheleznyakova lays into her opponent, Mullins grits her teeth and tackles the Russian to the mat. Zheleznyakova keeps her arms wrapped around Mullins to shut down any offense, and Mullins explodes with 15 seconds left to get into top position. The round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Round 3
The bantamweights touch ‘em up as they reach the last round, and jabs from both sides come again to start off. Zheleznyakova does not bite on a faked takedown effort, and she swings with a left hook but misses the mark. Zheleznyakova strings four punches together, rattling around her rival’s head, and she does not eat any counter as Mullins’ offense dwindles. Zheleznyakova jabs the body and goes upstairs with a right hand, and Mullins sees another one of those combos coming and parries it. Zheleznyakova mixes it up with a right to the body and a left to the dome, and Mullins defends by keeping her elbow up hoping that the Russian will walk into it. Mullins kicks her opponent’s front leg a single time, with Zheleznyakova appearing to have a second wind as she is the one pushing the pace, her face a swollen and busted mess. Mullins’ visage is not any better, and Zheleznyakova pins two punches on it to make it worse. The Brit connects with a body kick and then targets the sternum with the ball of her foot, and jumps to anticipate a strike that does not come. The jabs open up Mullins’ nose, which might be leaking from both nostrils. Mullins drops down for a single, and Zheleznyakova turns to the side and is dragged back down. Zheleznyakova defends a takedown by grabbing the fence, and Mitchell yells at her. The foul saving her from going down, she is able to bound off her knees instead and keep her back to the fence. Zheleznyakova pushes her away with 45 seconds to spare, and she gets right in Mullins’ face with her jabs and twos. The two ladies trade it out until the final horn, and they embrace after 15 minutes of bloody combat.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova (29-28 Zheleznyakova)
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Mullins (29-28 Mullins)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Mullins (29-28 Mullins)
The Official Result
Darya Zheleznyakova def. Melissa Mullins via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Melissa Mullins, but with caveats. He notes that Melissa is not great but should win, and that Daria has questionable takedown defense. He mentions that Melissa won their first fight by submission after losing on the feet, but both have evolved. He trusts Melissa more due to recent activity, but acknowledges Daria's striking power and the risk of a finish.
Big Brady picks Melissa Mullins, noting her vicious ground and pound and grappling advantage. He acknowledges that Zheleznyakova was winning the first fight on the feet before Mullins got a late takedown and TKO. He worries about Mullins getting hit but thinks one takedown could be enough. He predicts Mullins wins by second-round TKO, as she prefers TKOs over submissions.
The host notes this is a rematch from November 2023 where Mullins battered Zheleznyakova from top position and got a first-round stoppage. He doesn't see this fight going any differently and expects Mullins to get a TKO within two rounds.
The MMA Guru picks Melissa Mullins, citing her aggressive pace and ground-and-pound. He criticizes Daria Zheleznyakova's lack of skill and notes her striking on the back foot is not sustainable. He predicts a second or third round TKO via ground-and-pound for Mullins.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ailín Pérez | 0 | 7 of 12 | 58% | 22 of 27 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 5 of 12 | 41% | 12 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ailín Pérez | 0 | 7 of 12 | 58% | 22 of 27 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 5 of 12 | 41% | 12 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ailín Pérez | 7 of 12 | 58% | 5 of 7 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 5 of 12 | 41% | 4 of 10 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ailín Pérez | 7 of 12 | 58% | 5 of 7 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 |
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 5 of 12 | 41% | 4 of 10 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
In a fight that some have posited should not be happening today, Perez (10-2, 3-1 UFC) appears to be in much better shape than she was on Friday. The Argentinian still did miss weight as she cut down to 136.5 pounds, and her tremors and wobbly nature appear to be a thing of the past. Her team says the shakes were a ruse, but is Perez that good of an actor? Happy to take 20% of her foe’s purse, Zheleznyakova (9-1, 1-0 UFC) would also like to cash a second check and further work her way up the women’s bantamweight ladder. There is no glove touch offered as this has developed into a chippy fight, and referee Herb Dean watches on. After a fair amount of circling, Perez eventually engages with a takedown shot. Zheleznyakova pushes her away, and they resume their staring contest. Zheleznyakova decides she would like to try the grappling game, and she gets Perez down and lowers herself to side control. Zheleznyakova bails on the position for some reason and stands, and she has to quickly defend a shot from the Argentinian. Zheleznyakova reaches her opponent with a right hand, and she stuff another try and connects with another right hook. Perez crashes the pocket and tackles Zheleznyakova to the mat with a body lock takedown, where she scrambles her way all the way to full mount. Perez opens up with a few punches as she gets dragged back to half guard, and she starts setting up an arm-triangle choke. Perez lowers her body weight down to pressure the Russian’s throat, and Zheleznyakova’s face transforms to a brilliant shade of red in a hurry. Before she even moves to side control or mount, Perez manages to elicit the tap she was seeking. Dean officially calls a halt to the match, and when Zheleznyakova stands, Perez twerks in her face. The fans don’t know what to think, but she does not care, as her celebration dance continues.
The Official Result
Ailin Perez def. Darya Zheleznyakova R1 3:52 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Angelo picks Ailín Pérez confidently. He highlights her relentless forward pressure and takedowns, and notes that Daria's takedown defense is just okay. He expects Pérez to control the fight with wrestling and cardio, though he acknowledges Daria won a decision despite being taken down multiple times in her last fight. He also likes the over 2.5 rounds.
Big Brady picks Ailín Pérez by decision, citing her wrestling advantage (5 takedowns per 15 minutes) against Zhelezniakova's 50% takedown defense. He notes Pérez often has sketchy moments in fights but thinks she can win the first two rounds. He expects a decision win, possibly losing the third round.
Cody picks Zhelezniakova as an underdog, citing the hometown advantage and Pérez's tendency to do just enough to win without finishing. He notes that Pérez's takedowns often lead to little damage, and the judges may favor the local fighter in close rounds. Zhelezniakova is a striker who can outland Pérez on the feet.
Connor agrees, pointing out that Pérez's wins have come against low-level competition and that she almost lost to Jocelyn Edwards. He thinks the odds are too wide in Pérez's favor and that Zhelezniakova is a bigger athlete who doesn't constantly do stuff that doesn't work.
Daniel Vreeland picks Ailín Pérez to win. He thinks Pérez's wrestling will dominate, as she has landed many takedowns in recent fights. He notes Zhelezniakova has poor takedown defense and has been controlled on the ground. He expects Pérez to win by decision or ground-and-pound, but is not interested in the price.
JP picks Ailín Pérez but is hesitant because the line is -275, which he thinks is too big for a close fight. He compares Zhelezniakova to Daria Dudova, who was a good striker but faded when pressured. He thinks Pérez's pressure and clinch work will win her the decision.
Paul initially picks Pérez due to her takedown threat, but after discussion, he switches to Zhelezniakova citing the CF model and hometown cooking. He notes that Pérez doesn't do enough with takedowns and that the fight could be close, favoring the local fighter.
The MMA Guru picks Ailín Pérez over Daria Zhelezniakova, citing Pérez's size and strength, particularly her lower body power. He notes that Zhelezniakova has good striking but struggles with grappling, and Pérez has strong takedown entries. He expects Pérez to win via grappling.
Zane thinks Zhelezniakova is a bigger athlete with a functional game she sticks to, while Pérez is too small and relies on a grappling style that may not work against better fighters. He notes that Pérez has been winning due to commitment to a simple game, but Zhelezniakova will have opportunities to tag her and force ugly shots.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 25 of 147 | 17% | 28 of 156 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 5:24 |
| Montse Rendon | 0 | 57 of 150 | 38% | 73 of 171 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 6 of 37 | 16% | 7 of 38 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:23 |
| Montse Rendon | 0 | 10 of 32 | 31% | 18 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 14 of 66 | 21% | 16 of 70 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:51 |
| Montse Rendon | 0 | 24 of 72 | 33% | 24 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Daria Zhelezniakova | 0 | 5 of 44 | 11% | 5 of 48 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:10 |
| Montse Rendon | 0 | 23 of 46 | 50% | 31 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daria Zhelezniakova | 25 of 147 | 17% | 19 of 134 | 4 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 25 of 137 | 0 of 8 | 0 of 2 |
| Montse Rendon | 57 of 150 | 38% | 36 of 125 | 21 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 51 of 144 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daria Zhelezniakova | 6 of 37 | 16% | 3 of 33 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 35 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Montse Rendon | 10 of 32 | 31% | 7 of 29 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Daria Zhelezniakova | 14 of 66 | 21% | 12 of 61 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 62 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 2 |
| Montse Rendon | 24 of 72 | 33% | 16 of 62 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 24 of 72 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Daria Zhelezniakova | 5 of 44 | 11% | 4 of 40 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 40 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Montse Rendon | 23 of 46 | 50% | 13 of 34 | 10 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 42 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Zheleznykova (-218), Rendon (+180)
Round 1
The largest betting favorite of the evening comes in this preliminary women’s bantamweight tilt. Heavy underdog Rendon (6-0, 1-0 UFC) will try to land an upset again powerful Russian Zheleznyakova (8-1, 0-0 UFC), with the latter coming in around -250 depending on the book. Whether the lines can be trusted or if all bets are off, they will have 15 minutes to figure it out. Joining them in the cage will be referee Jason Herzog, who sits back as Zheleznyakova cruises forward ready to throw down. The Russian tags her unbeaten opponent in the mouth with an overhand right, and she backs her off with a pair of punches to follow. Rendon throws back but is out of range, as Zheleznyakova zips in and out to find her own shots. Zheleznyakova connects with a powerful right hand, and Rendon counters inaccurately. Rendon sits down on a right hand after eating a one-two, and she presses forward and takes Zheleznyakova down to the mat with a body lock. Zheleznyakova scoots her way to put her back to the wall, and she wall-walks and grabs the fence to do so. Rendon presses hard on her and searches for a mat return with various trips, and she eats a knee right on the solar plexus that stands her up momentarily. Rendon tries with all her might to secure another body lock takedown, but Zheleznyakova breaks free and jabs her in the face. Zheleznyakova sticks and moves as Rendon comes up shy of the mark with an overhand right, and she is in and out to land another right. Rendon scores at the end of a right hand, and she races forward as Zheleznyakova circles away. Zheleznyakova aims a right to the ribs and meets a blitzing Rendon with a knee to the sternum, shutting down Rendon’s takedown effort. Zheleznyakova overswings on a right hand, leading Rendon to snag hold of her and push her to the fence. Rendon completes the outside trip with her body lock and places Zheleznyakova flat on her back. Rendon lands in half guard, and she hangs on until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Round 2
Zheleznyakova starts off the second round aggressively, with several punches down the middle. Rendon lets fly her own strikes but is out of range again, as Zheleznyakova keeps her at the end of her punches and knocks her back with a long left hand and a body kick. Zheleznyakova lands a right hand and shuts down a takedown effort with a pair of punches. Rendon scores straight punches that bust open a cut on the Russian’s nose. Rendon pushes forward to pursue a takedown, and she fails to get it and eats a few punches on the nose. Zheleznyakova decides to start slugging it out, her nose leaking red down her face. Zheleznyakova surges forward to land a few, and Rendon has found her home with her power punches. Zheleznyakova spins with a strike and is stopped with a right hand, and Rendon clips her again as she tries to spin. Rendon crashes the pocket in pursuit of a takedown, and Zheleznyakova grabs the fence and has her hand slapped. The close round ends in the clinch.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rendon
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rendon
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rendon
Round 3
Zheleznyakova is cleared to compete in the last round, and they proceed to swing it out inaccurately. Zheleznyakova lobs a big left hand and brushes past the cheek, and she knocks Rendon back with a jab. Rendon crowds her but does not tie her up, instead backing up when she cannot find the right angle for a takedown. Zheleznyakova snaps the head back with a jab, and aims a right hand to the body and just misses a left over the top. Rendon sprints at her recklessly, dodging a strike and tying Zheleznyakova up to go after some kind of awkward takedown. Zheleznyakova shuts it all down and escapes out the side, and she pops out her jab to decent effect. When settling down with a big right hand, she gets backed off, but lands on the chest. Zheleznyakova goes high with a left and low with a right, and she snipes a charging Rendon with shots as Rendon runs at her. Rendon looks for a body lock and a trip, and she gets Zheleznyakova down to a knee for a moment before Zheleznyakova gets right back up. Rendon wrenches her down to a knee again, and she keeps her body weight pressed on the Russian to nullify any other offense. Zheleznyakova aims knees to the body as she tries to escape the clinch, and Rendon hooks her legs between her opponent’s. Zheleznyakova breaks free and lands a jab and a spinning back fist. Zheleznyakova spins with another back fist, and when that misses, she follows with a left that nails the unbeaten fighter. Rendon spins back with a fist that lands, and Zheleznyakova spins two more times to end the bantamweight bout.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova (29-28 Zheleznyakova)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova (29-28 Zheleznyakova)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova (29-28 Zheleznyakova)
The Official Result
Dariya Zheleznyakova def. Montserrat Rendon via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Montse Rendon as a very low confidence pick, citing her ground game as the deciding factor. He notes that Rendon can weather the storm, move forward, and grind out a win on the ground, similar to her win over Tamires Vidal. He sees a wide skill gap on the ground favoring Rendon, but acknowledges Daria's striking power. He considers a plus 3.5 round bet if the odds are favorable.
Big Brady picks Daria Zhelezniakova, impressed by her striking, hand speed, and power. He notes her takedown defense is a potential hole but believes she can win enough minutes on the feet. He mentions that judges are scoring damage over control time, which favors Zhelezniakova if Rendon takes her down but does nothing. He predicts a decision win.
Cody picks Zhelezniakova, citing her striking advantage and power. He notes that Rendon is a grappler who may struggle to get takedowns and hold position. Cody acknowledges the price is high but believes Zhelezniakova's skills on the feet will carry her.
Daniel Vreeland picks Daria Zhelezniakova by decision, praising her striking speed and technique. He notes Rendon's wrestling is limited to catching kicks and that Zhelezniakova can box her up. He expects Zhelezniakova to win all three rounds on the feet.
Rendon has solid basics, good physicality, and a BJJ brown belt. She showed improvement in her last fight by mixing in takedowns. Zhelezniakova is a UFC newcomer with questionable takedown defense and doesn't do anything exceptionally well. Rendon's strength and one-two down the pipe could be the difference. However, the line may move, and Rendon is only a lean at current odds.
Paul picks Zhelezniakova but notes the line has moved too much. He thinks her striking and improved takedown defense will be enough. Paul expects a decision win for Zhelezniakova.
The MMA Guru picks Daria Zhelezniakova over Montse Rendon, believing she is a much better striker. He references the Christian Rodriguez vs. Isaac Dulgarian fight to argue that control time doesn't matter to judges; damage does. He thinks Zhelezniakova will land more shots and win on damage, even if she ends up on bottom. He notes her loss to Melissa Mullins but sees her as the younger, more technical fighter.
Expert Picks (4)
Angelo picks Melissa Mullins, but with caveats. He notes that Melissa is not great but should win, and that Daria has questionable takedown defense. He mentions that Melissa won their first fight by submission after losing on the feet, but both have evolved. He trusts Melissa more due to recent activity, but acknowledges Daria's striking power and the risk of a finish.
Big Brady picks Melissa Mullins, noting her vicious ground and pound and grappling advantage. He acknowledges that Zheleznyakova was winning the first fight on the feet before Mullins got a late takedown and TKO. He worries about Mullins getting hit but thinks one takedown could be enough. He predicts Mullins wins by second-round TKO, as she prefers TKOs over submissions.
The host notes this is a rematch from November 2023 where Mullins battered Zheleznyakova from top position and got a first-round stoppage. He doesn't see this fight going any differently and expects Mullins to get a TKO within two rounds.
The MMA Guru picks Melissa Mullins, citing her aggressive pace and ground-and-pound. He criticizes Daria Zheleznyakova's lack of skill and notes her striking on the back foot is not sustainable. He predicts a second or third round TKO via ground-and-pound for Mullins.
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