The UFC wraps up 2025 with an action-packed Fight Night at the Apex, headlined by flyweight contenders Brandon Royval and Manel Kape. This card blends veteran savvy with rising stars, spotlighting a pivotal women’s bantamweight prelim bout between Canadian knockout artist Melissa Croden and Brazilian submission specialist Luana Santos. Both are coming off recent UFC wins and aim to climb the 135-pound ranks. Below is a detailed breakdown, centered on the Croden-Santos matchup, with event logistics and betting insights. All times ET.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
Start Time:
Early Prelims: 6:00 PM (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass)
Prelims: 7:00 PM (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass)
Main Card: 10:00 PM (ESPN/ESPN+)
Venue: UFC APEX, 6650 S Torrey Pines Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89118 (compact 1,300-capacity arena designed for high-production broadcasts, situated off the Las Vegas Strip near Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa for easy access)
Broadcast: ESPN, ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass (no PPV)
Injury Report
As of December 9, 2025, the card is fully intact, including Croden vs. Santos. No injuries reported for either fighter—Croden enters camp healthy after her October TKO win, and Santos is cleared following full recovery from a minor training tweak in September (unrelated to her May bout). Earlier card shakeups included a November postponement for Royval (flu) and a prelim swap due to Bleda’s undisclosed issue (now resolved). Dumas’ recent legal matter (resolved) hasn’t impacted availability.
Fighter Matchups: Melissa Croden vs. Luana Santos (Women’s Bantamweight, 3 Rounds)
This prelim gem pits a late-blooming Canadian power puncher against a young Brazilian grappling ace in a striker-vs.-grappler test. Croden’s size and finishing rate make her dangerous early, but Santos’ youth and submission threat could grind out control. Expect a chess match: Croden hunts KOs, Santos hunts chokes.
Melissa “Scare” Croden (7-2-0, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Age: 34; Height: 5’10”; Reach: 68″; Stance: Orthodox)
Croden is a regional terror turned UFC prospect, boasting a 100% finish rate in wins (6 KOs/TKOs, 1 sub). Training at Alavanca in Canada, she’s a pressure striker with heavy hands and solid wrestling defense, averaging 4.2 significant strikes per minute. Her late-career surge highlights veteran savvy.
Luana Santos (9-2-0, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Age: 25; Height: 5’6″; Reach: 67″; Stance: Orthodox)
Santos, out of Syndicate MMA, is a submission savant with 5 chokes in her arsenal (56% finish rate). She’s 4-1 in the UFC, blending BJJ with opportunistic striking. Durable on the feet (absorbs 3.1 strikes/min), she excels in transitions but can be outstruck by taller foes.
Key Styles Clash: Croden’s height/reach edge (3″ taller, 1″ longer) for clinch knees vs. Santos’ low kicks and takedown chains (3.2 attempts per 15 min). Bantamweight history shows 65% of similar matchups end inside the distance—prediction: 60% chance of finish, favoring Croden’s power in a standup war.
Recent Form
Croden rides a three-fight KO streak into her second UFC outing, while Santos snapped a skid with a sub win but faces questions on takedown absorption.
| Fighter | Last 5 Fights | Form Notes |
| Melissa Croden | W-TKO3 (Lisboa, Oct 2025) W-TKO2 (Deen, Oct 2024) W-TKO3 (Lehner, Oct 2023) L-UD5 (Cavalcanti, Apr 2023) W-TKO3 (Holm, Aug 2022) | 3-fight KO streak; all UFC/regional finishes via strikes. Elite power (86% KO rate), but decisions in losses. Camp emphasizes anti-grappling drills post-debut. |
| Luana Santos | W-Sub2 (Lisboa, May 2025) L-UD3 (O’Neill, Aug 2024) W-UD3 (Medeiros, Mar 2024) W-Sub1 (Silva, Nov 2023) W-KO2 (Ferreira, Jul 2023) | 4-1 UFC run; 3 finishes in last 6. Strong grappling (5 subs career), but vulnerable to volume strikers (exposed vs. O’Neill). Focusing on footwork in camp. |
Fight History
Melissa Croden (Pro Debut: 2019): Built resume in LFA/PAWFC/Titan FC (Canada/U.S. regionals). UFC debut Oct 2025 (1-0). Total fight time: ~45 minutes across 9 bouts. Strengths: Striking accuracy (58%), KO power (one-punch threat). Weaknesses: Grappling defense (67% takedown D), cardio in later rounds.
Luana Santos (Pro Debut: 2021): Brazilian circuit (Jungle Fight, regional events) before UFC entry Aug 2023 (4-1). Total fight time: ~38 minutes across 11 bouts. Strengths: Sub rate (45% of wins), transition game. Weaknesses: Striking output (3.8 landed/min), height disadvantage vs. taller opponents.
FIGHT ODDS
Melissa Croden + 120
Luana Santos – 140
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 12, 2025
