Melissa Croden Falls to Luana Santos in UFC Match in Las Vegas

Calgary’s Melissa Croden faced a setback in her UFC career on October 7, 2023, losing to Brazil’s Luana Santos at a match held in Las Vegas. The bout concluded with a unanimous decision in favor of Santos, with scorecards reading 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27. Santos, currently ranked 15th among 135-pound contenders, effectively utilized her ground game throughout the fight, demonstrating her skills as a black belt in judo.

Santos executed successful trips to take Croden down in each of the three rounds, maintaining control during the second and third. With this victory, Santos improved her UFC record to 5-1-0, while Croden, a 34-year-old paramedic, now holds a record of 7-3-0. Both fighters entered the match after defeating the same opponent, Tainara Lisboa, with Santos earning a second-round submission victory in May and Croden winning by TKO in her UFC debut last October.

Despite the loss, Croden expressed a resilient outlook on her social media. She reflected on the philosophical concept of Eudaimonia, which emphasizes living a meaningful and fulfilling life. Croden stated, “While losing a fight is not a comfortable experience, the worth comes from the effort, consistency, integrity and character growth. Loss is not a failure of life or identity; it is just a part of living well as a fighter.”

She reassured her followers that she remained unharmed and looked forward to her next fight in the UFC. “Thank you to my corner Curt, Hailey, and Ken for everything that you do and thank you to my manager Brian Butler for landing me the opportunity to get to be a UFC fighter. What a beautiful life. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I’ll be back soon enough!”

Canadian Fighters in Action

Other Canadian fighters also competed during the event. Lance Gibson Jr. suffered a loss, dropping a decision to American King Green. Gibson Jr. is part of a notable family legacy in mixed martial arts, as his father, Lance Gibson Sr., fought in UFC 24 and 29 in 2000.

In earlier bouts, Squamish, B.C. flyweight Jamey-Lyn Horth scored a first-round stoppage against Czechia’s Tereza Bleda. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated fight featuring Gillian Robertson, ranked 10th among UFC strawweights, was postponed when her opponent, Brazilian veteran Amanda Lemos, withdrew due to a medical issue just hours before the fight. This match is now rescheduled for March 14, 2024.

With contributions from The Canadian Press, the night showcased both challenges and triumphs for Canadian fighters, reflecting the competitive nature of the UFC landscape.