UFC London MMA Match Preview: Luana Carolina (7-2-0) vs. Melissa Mullins (11-5-0)

Venue: The O2 Arena, London, England
Prelims Start Time: 1:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM GMT (main card at 4:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM GMT)
Broadcast: Prelims on Paramount+ (US); main card regionally adjusted.
Weight Class: Women’s Bantamweight (135 lbs) – Opening preliminary card bout.

This women’s bantamweight prelim opener pits Coventry native Melissa Mullins (“No Mess”) against Brazilian veteran Luana Carolina (“Dread”). The card headlines Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy and is packed with British talent, but this matchup opens the show with a true pick-’em scrap loaded with stylistic contrast, home-crowd energy, and decision potential in front of a raucous O2 Arena audience.

Tale of the Tape

Melissa Mullins (England): 34 years old, 5’7”, 68” reach. Orthodox. Style: All-rounder with power striking (57% KO rate) and opportunistic wrestling. Record: 7-2-0 (2-2 UFC).
Luana Carolina (Brazil): 32 years old, 5’6”–5’7”, 69” reach. Orthodox. Style: Muay Thai striker with crisp kicks, clinch knees, and vastly improved takedown defense. Record: 11-5-0 (6-4 UFC).

Both made weight cleanly. Carolina holds a slight reach and experience edge; Mullins brings home-crowd pressure and finishing power.

Injury Report

No injuries reported for either fighter. Both have cleared medicals and are fully expected to compete. Mullins and Carolina have posted normal training updates with zero camp disruptions noted across UFC, media, or social channels as of March 18, 2026.

Fighter Matchups & Styles

Mullins is the compact, powerful all-rounder who pressures forward with clean boxing, body shots, and wrestling entries to control the clinch or ground. She excels at bullying opponents against the fence but can be hittable. Carolina is the rangier Muay Thai specialist who uses distance kicks, teeps, and devastating clinch knees. She has evolved significantly in takedown defense and ground survival after early-career struggles. The key clash is Mullins’ forward pressure/wrestling vs. Carolina’s speed, range, and clinch work. Mullins wins if she closes distance and drags fights into grappling exchanges; Carolina prevails by keeping range, piling up volume, and surviving any early takedown attempts.

Recent Form

Melissa Mullins (2-2 in UFC; alternating wins/losses):

Jun 21, 2025 – UD loss Daria Zhelezniakova (3 rounds).
Nov 9, 2024 – TKO (punches) Klaudia Sygula (R2, 1:20) – dominant performance.
Apr 6, 2024 – TKO loss Nora Cornolle (R2).
Mullins mixes power striking with control but has been outworked in decisions against high-volume foes.

Luana Carolina (6-4 UFC; 2-1 in last 3):

Sep 27, 2025 – UD loss Michelle Montague (3 rounds) – competitive despite ground control.
Jul 20, 2024 – UD win Lucie Pudilova (3 rounds).
Feb 3, 2024 – TKO (punches) Julija Stoliarenko (R3, 4:52).
Carolina has shown elite durability and striking evolution, especially after moving up to 135 lbs.

Fight History Summary

Mullins turned pro late (2018-ish) and exploded regionally before a UFC contract. She boasts 4 KO/TKO wins and strong BJJ credentials but is still refining Octagon pacing. Never finished in recent years. Carolina debuted pro in 2015, earned a DWCS contract, and has 11 wins (3 KO/TKO, 1 SUB, 7 DEC). UFC run includes early flyweight struggles before stabilizing at bantamweight with improved defense. This is a classic veteran-vs-home-prospect clash.

FIGHT ODDS

Luana Carolina – 125

Melissa Mullins + 105

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, March 20, 2026