Guru predicted Melissa Mullins will overwhelm Daria Zelensnyakova, calling for a second- or third-round ground-and-pound TKO. He dislikes Zelensnyakova’s passive back-foot striking style and spotty regional tape, believing she must fight perfectly for 15 minutes—something rare in women’s MMA—to win that way. Mullins, on the other hand, relentlessly presses forward, mixes level changes, and possesses heavy top pressure. Guru thinks that pace forces grappling exchanges Zelensnyakova can’t handle and leads to sustained damage for the stoppage.

Guru’s first PrizePicks square is the MORE side of 35.5 significant strikes for Melissa Mullins. He expects Mullins to wrestle early and unleash her trademark ground-and-pound, inflating strike totals even if she dominates positionally. Mullins has averaged high output on the regional scene and Guru projects a three-round fight where top control translates into steady volume that clears the posted line.

Monk echoed the bullish stance on Melissa Mullins, noting that Mullins owns an 87 % share of all fight-long control time, lands ground strikes at a steady clip and still posts a positive striking differential on the feet. By contrast, Zheleznyakova gets pinned for 91 % of control time when her bouts hit the mat despite an otherwise respectable striking defense. Monk expects Mullins to chain wrestle early, pile up several takedowns and rack up advances rather than simply stall. He prefers a decision win for maximum DraftKings scoring through accrued top time but is comfortable with the –135 Inside-the-Distance line because Mullins has shown finishing instincts. Monk categorizes the underdog as an unplayable punt outside of 2 % “Hail-Mary” exposure.

Sniper declared he will have zero shares of underdog Darya Zheleznyakova and be "over the field" on $9.0K Melissa Mullins, calling her a straightforward cash-game cornerstone and even a viable parlay leg at –260. He expects Mullins to rinse-and-repeat takedowns, dominate top control and potentially secure a finish, citing Zheleznyakova’s 50 % takedown defense and 91 % control-time allowed. With Mullins already averaging 87 % control time in her own fights and generating ground-and-pound when on top, Sniper believes she offers both a high fantasy floor and a 100-point ceiling. His entire Mullins exposure will come at the expense of the punt-side, which he views as having nothing more than "fluke punch" equity.

Madlab Michael Lurato advised passing on the Mullins-Zhelezniakova rematch altogether. Although he leans Mullins because of her wrestling bailout—she landed three takedowns in their first meeting—Lurato called the British prospect ‘a favorite who crumbles off a touch.’ Mullins has been finished twice by body shots on the regional scene and still shows panic reactions on tape. With the over/under set at 2.5 rounds (–105 over, –125 under) and both women capable of collapsing when momentum swings, Lurato refuses to lay –275, stash her in parlays, or spend DraftKings salary. His entire guidance: if you must bet, limit exposure to a tiny Mullins money-line sprinkle, otherwise keep this fight off your card.

Kunath sees no reason the immediate rematch plays out differently: Melissa Mullins will drag Darya Zheleznyakova to the mat and hammer her until the ref steps in. He stressed the recipe that rules women’s MMA—wrestling, aggression, strength, and a finish-hungry mindset—and said Mullins checks every box. Mullins already ‘beat the brakes off her’ once, and Kunath doubts Darya’s incremental striking improvements will matter when Mullins inevitably gets inside, hits her trademark body-lock, and unloads elbows. The tout compared Mullins’ suffocating style to Kayla Harrison steamrolling Julianna Pena, predicting another TKO or possible arm-triangle. Play: Mullins ITD or Mullins by KO/TKO for juicier odds.

In a rematch he calls unnecessary, Kunath expects Melissa Mullins to bulldoze Darya Zheleznyakova again, this time inside the distance. Mullins’ game—takedowns on repeat, top-position ground-and-pound, and finishing intent—dominates women’s divisions the same way Kayla Harrison steamrolled Juliana Pena. Kunath concedes Zheleznyakova offers a bit more stand-up than last time, but views the question not as if Mullins will score takedowns but when. Once it hits the mat, Mullins will ‘beat you like you stole something,’ likely forcing a referee stoppage. He suggests Mullins ITD/KO-TKO props and adds her to parlays, confident judges won’t be needed.