Daniil Donchenko Gets Paris Wish

Daniil Donchenko will get the Paris opportunity he requested after his June victory in Baku, Azerbaijan, when he faces Punahele Soriano this weekend. The Ukrainian welterweight had called for a chance to compete in France after stopping Theodor Berggren in the second round, and his return comes with a clear focus: bringing a more balanced version of his game into the Octagon. Donchenko is not presenting his recent progress as a finished product. Instead, he has described each UFC appearance as another lesson in controlling his attacks, trusting his preparation and allowing openings to develop rather than trying to force every exchange.

That approach follows a contrast Donchenko drew between two of his performances this year. Against Alex Morono in February, Donchenko earned a unanimous decision over the veteran, but said he had pushed himself close to exhaustion by trying to land every strike with fight-ending intent. By the time he met Berggren in June, he wanted to be more measured and committed to a game plan. The result was the second-round knockout he wanted, along with his first bonus. For Donchenko, the change was not about becoming less aggressive. It was about making aggression serve a sequence rather than letting urgency dictate the entire fight. His account of the Berggren finish centered on body attacks and low kicks that lowered his opponent’s hands before a high kick landed. That is the practical distinction he sees in his growth: pressure remains part of the plan, but it is paired with patience.

A measured route to Paris

Daniil Donchenko said he was still loading up and pressing at times against Berggren, but he viewed the performance as smarter than simply brawling. He said he attacked the body, used low kicks and then landed the high kick as part of a planned progression. The finish gave him confirmation that he can pursue damage without abandoning the structure he prepared. He has also said that his UFC experience has made him calmer, more confident and better with every outing. That matters heading into a matchup with Soriano because Donchenko’s stated target is not merely to be busy. He wants to win while showing the composure needed to capitalize when a finish becomes available. His own description of the task is to enter with a clear mind, leave thoughts about winning or losing outside the cage and remain in the present.

Paris also carries a personal connection for Daniil Donchenko. He said he spent one or two months in France during each summer for 10 years when he was young, staying with family. After turning 16, he remained in contact with that family, maintained friendships in France and returned to visit many times. Donchenko said his best friend is French and that one of his coaches is from France, which has helped him practice the language. His French remarks after the Berggren knockout drew attention, though he explained that the wording he used was closer to slang. For this camp, Donchenko said he spent most of his preparation at Czerwony Smok in Poznan, Poland, after a brief vacation and some training in Switzerland. The setting makes the Paris date more than a routine stop on the schedule: it is the event he publicly asked to join, now paired with an opponent he considers a meaningful test.

Soriano presents the next test

UFC’s event preview lists Donchenko and Soriano outside the Top 15. Soriano enters on a four-fight winning streak and has remained undefeated since moving to welterweight earlier this year. His most recent cited win came against Ramiz Brahimaj in Houston, while Donchenko also pointed to Soriano’s victory over Uros Medic, whom Donchenko described as being in the Top 10. Donchenko’s assessment was that Soriano has become a smarter fighter with experience after previously starting fast and tiring. That reading helps explain why Donchenko has emphasized discipline rather than treating the matchup as a simple chase for a highlight. He said a finish over Soriano would make him feel deserving of a Top 15 place, but he also said rankings are not his central concern. His priority is the next name, the next preparation and competing regularly. In his view, rankings can increase attention, but an entertaining fighter who performs the right way can create attention regardless.

• February: Daniil Donchenko defeated Alex Morono by unanimous decision, a performance Donchenko said exposed his tendency to exhaust himself by loading up on shots.
• June: Daniil Donchenko knocked out Theodor Berggren in the second round in Baku, earning a bonus after using the patient, planned approach he had sought.

Daniil Donchenko’s Paris appearance is therefore built on both a requested destination and a specific competitive adjustment. He enters against Soriano looking for a third straight UFC win, but his stated standard is broader than a result alone: follow the work he has done, stay present and let his skills operate together. UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs Parnasse takes place at Accor Arena in Paris, France, on September 5, 2026, with prelims scheduled for 12 p.m. ET and the main card for 3 p.m. ET.