Daria Zhelezniakova

Overview

Two UFC wins, both by decision, and a style profile that reads like a counterpuncher's: Daria Zhelezniakova, "Iron Lady," is a Saint Petersburg-born Women's Bantamweight who is 2-3 in the UFC and 10-4-0 across all promotions.

She hasn't finished anyone in the Octagon, and she hasn't been finished easily either, with one loss each by KO/TKO, submission and decision. Two straight losses are what she carries into her next fight.

UFC Career

Zhelezniakova debuted in March 2024 at UFC Fight Night: Ribas vs. Namajunas, beating Montse Rendon by unanimous decision over three rounds. Six months later at UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs Saint Denis, Ailin Perez submitted her at 3:52 of the first round.

She rebounded in June 2025 with another unanimous decision, this time over Melissa Mullins. That win, her second, is the longest streak of her UFC run. It didn't extend.

In April 2026 she dropped a unanimous decision to Melissa Croden at UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott. Her most recent fight, at UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Duncan, ended in a first-round KO/TKO loss to Alice Pereira.

Two wins, both to the scorecards. Three losses, each a different way.

Fighting Style

The career numbers split cleanly. On the feet she lands more per minute than the UFC average, absorbs less, and defends better, though her accuracy is below that average. Volume without precision, then, but she makes it hard for opponents to land cleanly.

The grappling side is where the data is thin. She almost never shoots for takedowns, and she rarely hunts submissions. She also gets taken down more than most. That matches the submission loss to Perez.

Her wins have been decisions. The fights she has lost have ended in every way a fight can, so there is no single pattern to point to.

Quick Facts

• Division: Women's Bantamweight
• UFC record: 2-3
• Professional record (all promotions): 10-4-0
• UFC debut: 2024
• Stance: Orthodox
• Height: 5'9"
• Reach: 68"
• Born: Saint Petersburg, Russia