Daniil Donchenko continued his perfect UFC run with a statement finish over Theodor Berggren at UFC Fight Night 280 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Donchenko stopped Berggren by TKO on the preliminary card at the National Gymnastics Arena, improving his professional record to 14-2 in MMA and 3-0 in the UFC. Berggren fell to 8-4 overall and 0-1 in the promotion.
The Season 33 winner of The Ultimate Fighter sealed the victory in the second round, landing a head kick followed by strikes to force the stoppage. Afterward, Donchenko admitted the finish even caught him off guard. "I'm surprised I can throw high kicks," he said.
He expanded on the sequence, adding, "I can kick not only low – imagine! … (The head kick) was last in my head how I could finish him like this. My coach, he screamed, 'Right hand, right kick!' I threw it, and he started to dance (wobbly) and I was like, 'What the f*ck!' I'm surprised with myself."
Donchenko, who entered the bout described as a heavy betting favorite, also reflected on how his career is viewed at home. "She's still angry with me because I do MMA," he said of his mother. "Maybe now she'll be happy that I start to make money finally. For her, I'm still someone who maybe uses drugs or fights on the street. She doesn't understand it's my job. I'm (older now). I should call her."
