Two of the top Canadian women in combat sports have been added to the upcoming UFC Fight Night card in Winnipeg.
Jasmine Jasudavicius is set to face Brazil’s Karine Silva in a flyweight bout on April 18 at Canada Life Centre, while Melissa Croden will face Russia’s Darya Zheleznyakova at bantamweight, the organization announced Tuesday.
This will be yet another home game for Jasudavicius, who fought on both Canadian cards last year and has fought in her home country in four of her past six overall.
The soon-to-be 37-year-old beat former UFC titleholder Jessica Andrade in Montreal in May but had a five-fight winning streak snapped in October in Vancouver when she was finished early in the opening round by Manon Fiorot.
Jasudavicius, of St. Catharines, Ont., is a proud member of the Niagara Top Team currently the No. 6-ranked contender in the 125-pound division. Silva is ranked No. 9.
Silva, 32, has lost two of her past three and is coming off a three-round unanimous decision loss to Maycee Barber in December.
Calgary’s Croden, 34, lost a decision to Luana Santos in December after winning her UFC debut by TKO at UFC Vancouver four months ago. Zheleznyakova, 30, is coming off a decision win over Melissa Mullins last summer to improve to 2-1 in the UFC.
A welterweight bout between Mike Malott and one-time title challenger Gilbert Burns is slated to headline the event and more Canadians are expected to be added to the card in the coming weeks.
