Daria Zhelezniakova
The Iron Lady
Russia
Out
Injury Undisclosed
Est. Return 11/9/2025
Removed from UFC Vegas 111 card
Zhelezniakova will no longer face Luana Santos in a bantamweight bout at UFC Vegas 111 on Nov. 8, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
It's unclear why Zhelezniakova has been removed from the card, but she won't get a chance to build on her 2-1 record in the promotion quite yet. Instead, her opponent Santos will now take on Melissa Croden, who is coming off a win in her UFC debut.
It's unclear why Zhelezniakova has been removed from the card, but she won't get a chance to build on her 2-1 record in the promotion quite yet. Instead, her opponent Santos will now take on Melissa Croden, who is coming off a win in her UFC debut.
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Fourth UFC fight booked
Zhelezniakova will take on Luana Santos in a bantamweight matchup at UFC Vegas 111 on Nov. 8, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Zhelezniakova is 2-1 with the UFC, most recently taking a unanimous decision over Melissa Mullins in June. She now draws Santos, who is an impressive 4-1 in the UFC, most recently submitting Tainara Lisboa in May to rebound from her only loss. Zhelezniakova has slight height and reach advantages, in addition to superior striking numbers (over a slightly smaller sample size). Santos has the edge in takedown volume -- 1.91 per 15 minutes of fight time -- while Zhelezniakova defends the takedown at just a 50 percent clip. Even in her two wins, she was taken down a combined six times.
Zhelezniakova is 2-1 with the UFC, most recently taking a unanimous decision over Melissa Mullins in June. She now draws Santos, who is an impressive 4-1 in the UFC, most recently submitting Tainara Lisboa in May to rebound from her only loss. Zhelezniakova has slight height and reach advantages, in addition to superior striking numbers (over a slightly smaller sample size). Santos has the edge in takedown volume -- 1.91 per 15 minutes of fight time -- while Zhelezniakova defends the takedown at just a 50 percent clip. Even in her two wins, she was taken down a combined six times.
Gets revenge on Melissa Mullins
Zhelezniakova defeated Melissa Mullins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Baku, Azerbaijan.
ANALYSIS
It was a strong rebound performance from Zhelezniakova on the heels of her first-round submission defeat to Ailin Perez last September. Entering as a +225 underdog, Daria proved to be well ahead of her opponent on the feet in terms of speed and quickness. She did allow Mullins three successful takedowns, but limited the damage she absorbed in the process. This bout was the exact blueprint for how Zhelezniakova needs to fight moving forward in order to be successful. She's alternated wins and losses in her first three UFC fights, in addition to getting revenge on Mullins after getting knocked out by her in the first fight between the two back in November 2022.
It was a strong rebound performance from Zhelezniakova on the heels of her first-round submission defeat to Ailin Perez last September. Entering as a +225 underdog, Daria proved to be well ahead of her opponent on the feet in terms of speed and quickness. She did allow Mullins three successful takedowns, but limited the damage she absorbed in the process. This bout was the exact blueprint for how Zhelezniakova needs to fight moving forward in order to be successful. She's alternated wins and losses in her first three UFC fights, in addition to getting revenge on Mullins after getting knocked out by her in the first fight between the two back in November 2022.
Taking on Mullins in Baku
Zhelezniakova will fight Melissa Mullins at UFC Baku on Jun. 21, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Zhelezniakova will get her third UFC fight following a loss to Ailin Perez back in September. The Russian bantamweight is now 1-1 in the UFC and will take on a slightly more experienced fighter in Mullins, who is 2-1 with the company. Zheleznyakova is roughly a (+225) betting underdog as of the start of fight week.
Zhelezniakova will get her third UFC fight following a loss to Ailin Perez back in September. The Russian bantamweight is now 1-1 in the UFC and will take on a slightly more experienced fighter in Mullins, who is 2-1 with the company. Zheleznyakova is roughly a (+225) betting underdog as of the start of fight week.
Taps out to heavy opponent
Zheleznyakova lost to Ailin Perez via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:52 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Paris.
ANALYSIS
The lone bit of good news for Zheleznyakova is that she will walk away with 20 percent of Perez's purse after the latter missed weight by half a pound on Friday morning. Darya did manage to land a takedown almost immediately, but once Perez was able to get back to her feet and get her grappling game going, Zheleznyakova was done. She was dragged to the mat by an easy body lock and found herself tapping out moments later. With just 10 professional fights under her belt at age 28, Zheleznyakova, who is now 1-1 in the UFC, is nothing more than roster depth for the company.
The lone bit of good news for Zheleznyakova is that she will walk away with 20 percent of Perez's purse after the latter missed weight by half a pound on Friday morning. Darya did manage to land a takedown almost immediately, but once Perez was able to get back to her feet and get her grappling game going, Zheleznyakova was done. She was dragged to the mat by an easy body lock and found herself tapping out moments later. With just 10 professional fights under her belt at age 28, Zheleznyakova, who is now 1-1 in the UFC, is nothing more than roster depth for the company.
Perez fight now catchweight
Zheleznyakova will compete against Ailin Perez in a catchweight fight at UFC Paris on Saturday, according to Aaron Bronsteter of Sportsnet.
ANALYSIS
Perez missed weight by half a pound, even with the benefit of a non-title fight allowing her an extra pound to work with. Zheleznyakova will receive 20 percent of Perez's initial purse, and the fight proceeds as a catchweight bout.
Perez missed weight by half a pound, even with the benefit of a non-title fight allowing her an extra pound to work with. Zheleznyakova will receive 20 percent of Perez's initial purse, and the fight proceeds as a catchweight bout.