Venue: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Early prelims: ~3:00 p.m. CT (UFC Fight Pass).
Prelims: 5:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. CT (Paramount+).
Main card: 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT (Paramount+).
The event features 13 bouts and marks the UFC’s return to Winnipeg. The main event is a welterweight clash between former title challenger Gilbert Burns (22-9) and Canadian contender Mike Malott (13-2-1). The full card includes several ranked or notable fighters across divisions, with the women’s bantamweight bout between Melissa Croden and Daria Zhelezniakova slotted on the preliminary card.
Injury Report: No injuries or withdrawals have been reported for the card as of April 14, 2026. The Croden vs. Zhelezniakova matchup remains fully intact with no line movement tied to health concerns.
Focused Fight Preview:
Melissa Croden vs. Daria Zhelezniakova (Women’s Bantamweight, 3 x 5-minute rounds, Prelims)
Fighter Profiles & Styles
Melissa Croden (“Scare,” Calgary, Alberta, Canada): 7-3 overall (UFC record 1-1). 5’9″, orthodox. A powerful striker with elite knockout power (6 of 7 career wins by KO/TKO). Works as an EMT outside the cage; trains out of Alavanca Jiu Jitsu Calgary. Strong forward pressure, heavy hands, and improving grappling; thrives in home-country atmospheres with a fan-friendly finishing style.
Daria Zhelezniakova (“Iron Lady,” St. Petersburg, Russia / Paris, France): 10-2 overall (UFC record 2-1). 5’9″, orthodox striker. A well-rounded veteran with strong cardio, volume striking, and solid decision-making (5 decision wins). Trains out of MMA Factory; dangerous early but has shown vulnerability to submissions against aggressive finishers.
Recent Form
Croden enters with a 1-1 UFC record and mixed momentum:
Dec 13, 2025 – Unanimous decision loss vs. Luana Santos (UFC Fight Night).
Oct 18, 2025 – KO/TKO win (R3, 4:32) vs. Tainara Lisboa (UFC Fight Night).
Oct 25, 2024 – KO/TKO win (R2, 0:22) vs. Ashley Deen (LFA 195).
She has never been finished in her career and owns 86% of her wins by stoppage, but her most recent outing exposed cardio questions against elite volume.
Zhelezniakova is 2-1 in the UFC and coming off a solid win but with a lengthy layoff:
Jun 21, 2025 – Unanimous decision win vs. Melissa Mullins (UFC Fight Night).
Sep 28, 2024 – Submission loss (arm-triangle, R1, 3:52) vs. Ailin Perez (UFC Fight Night).
Mar 23, 2024 – Unanimous decision win vs. Montse Rendon (UFC Fight Night).
She excels in stand-up wars that go the distance but has been stopped early when pressured.
Fight History & Key Matchup Notes
Croden (age 35) is the local Canadian favorite making her third UFC appearance in seven months, bringing knockout power and home-crowd energy to Winnipeg. Zhelezniakova (age 30) is the slightly younger, more experienced Octagon veteran with two UFC decision wins but a glaring early-submission loss on her ledger. This is a classic “power striker vs. volume decision-maker” women’s bantamweight clash. Croden’s finishing rate and forward pressure could overwhelm Zhelezniakova early, while Zhelezniakova’s cardio and striking volume favor a longer fight. Both are 5’9″ with similar reach—expect a stand-up battle with grappling exchanges likely if Croden pushes the pace. Neither has been submitted often, but Zhelezniakova’s lone UFC loss came via arm-triangle, highlighting a potential vulnerability.
FIGHT ODDS
Melissa Croden – 155
Daria Zhelezniakova + 135
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, April 17, 2026
