Daniel Rodriguez fires back at Daniil Donchenko's UFC Paris callout

Daniil Donchenko called out Daniel Rodriguez after securing a unanimous decision victory over Punahele Soriano on the main card of UFC Paris. The Ukrainian, who holds a 15-2 record with 11 finishes, has remained undefeated across four UFC appearances. Rodriguez, sitting at 20-6, responded to the callout via Instagram Stories with a middle-finger emoji and Drake's "I'm Upset" playing in the background—a clear signal of his displeasure with the matchup proposal.

Rodriguez's recent career has been marked by turbulence outside the Octagon. The welterweight was arrested in August 2025 for crossing the U.S.-Mexico border with marijuana, leading to nearly eight months in a Mexican prison before his release in April 2026. Upon his return to competition, Rodriguez suffered a devastating knockout loss to Uros Medic in just 30 seconds, derailing what had been a three-fight winning streak prior to his legal troubles.

Donchenko's callout follows his strong showing in Paris, continuing his momentum in the UFC's lightweight or welterweight division. However, Rodriguez's dismissive response suggests he may be targeting different opponents or waiting for better circumstances as he attempts to rebuild following his incarceration and brutal return fight. Whether the UFC will pursue this matchup remains to be seen, particularly given Rodriguez's current position in the rankings and recent setbacks.