Ukrainian welterweight fighter Daniil Donchenko secured another convincing victory under the UFC banner. At UFC Fight Night 287, held in Paris, the 24-year-old Ukrainian went three rounds against American Punahale Soriano and won by unanimous decision with scores of 30:27, 30:27, and 29:28. According to Sport RBC.UA, the bout was part of the event's main card and marked Donchenko's fourth consecutive win in the organization (4-0 in UFC), as well as his third victory of the 2026 calendar year.
Bout progression: distance control and two knockdowns in the first round
The Ukrainian seized the initiative almost from the opening minutes. In the first five-minute round, Donchenko worked confidently on the feet, smartly defending against Soriano's takedown attempts and sending the American to the canvas twice. Despite such an aggressive start, the fight did not end early, and Soriano managed to recover to continue the contest.
Second round and a below-the-belt incident
In the second five-minute round, Daniil continued to dictate the terms, maintaining a comfortable range for himself. The round featured an unpleasant incident involving an accidental below-the-belt strike, which required the American to take time to recover. Nevertheless, in terms of the volume of accurate and impactful strikes, the Ukrainian clearly outperformed his opponent, building his lead in the judges' eyes.
Grappling in the finale and a unanimous decision
In the final round, Soriano changed tactics and shifted his focus to grappling, managing to take the fight to the mat. However, this did not give the American an edge: even from the bottom position, Donchenko actively attacked his opponent with elbow strikes and quickly escaped the dangerous spot. In the end, all three judges scored the bout for the Ukrainian — 30:27, 30:27, and 29:28.
Third win of the year and the road to the top 15
This success marked Donchenko's third victory of 2026: earlier in February he defeated American Alex Moreno, and in June he knocked out Sweden's Theodor Berggren. As observers note, the win in Paris significantly brings the Ukrainian closer to entering the top 15 of the UFC welterweight rankings, strengthening his position in the upper part of the division.
Next target: a challenge to Daniel Rodriguez
Following his latest success in Paris, Donchenko publicly stated his desire to face veteran American Daniel Rodriguez in his next fight. Such a challenge, if accepted, would represent a serious step forward for the Ukrainian and a potential bout for a spot in the welterweight elite.
