Welterweight Veteran Possibly Ends Career in Glorious Fashion

In the last fight of his contract, not many gave Alex Morono a shot in his UFC Vegas 113 showdown with Daniil Donchenko, but after a stellar performance, he proved his mettle as a veteran of the roster.

Alex Morono Locked Horns with Prodigal Ultimate Fighter Winner

For almost the past two years, Alex Morono had remained outside the win column in the later stage of his company tenure prior to 2026, suffering three straight defeats, losing his last cage outing by first-round knockout to Carlos Leal. At 35 years old, and having already recorded nearly 40 professional contests, it appeared that the curtain was nearing its time to fall on his career as he reached the final assignment of his UFC contract.

Accepting a featured preliminary scrap at UFC Vegas 113, “The Great White,” Alex Morono prepared to walk to the Octagon in a last blaze of glory against the welterweight division’s latest top prospect in the Ukraine’s Daniil Donchenko.

Coming up through the competitive international circuit, Donchenko had enjoyed a five-fight win streak dating back to 2023, notably winning the Naiza FC lightweight strap and defending it once. Garnering the attention of the UFC and Dana White, the Tiger Muay Thai representative was invited to participate in the 33rd season of the venerable mixed martial arts tournament the Ultimate Fighter. Dominating the entire bracket, the European went on to devastate the equally touted Rodrigo Sezinando in the live finale at Noche UFC 3 to score his contract with the organization.

Alex Morono Shocks World with Gritty, Bloody Performance

Flying into Sin City, Morono had all the odds stacked against, both metaphorically and quite literally, with some online books having Donchenko as a massive favorite. At the outset of the match, many were expecting the formidable TUF champion to score an early knockout and hand the Gracie Barra Woodlands coach his fourth successive defeat. After an early down in the first round by Donchenko, it appeared that was going to be the case.

However, mustering all of the heart and determination that comes with being a 15-year competitor, Morono wowed the Apex audience and the greater mixed martial arts community by weathering the storm and pushing the young phenom to the limits of his gas tank. Making it all the way to the final horn, Morono had endured exactly 100 significant strikes from Donchenko, and in the process, delivered 40 of his own, even bloodied the surging European at one point. Losing a one-sided unanimous decision, “The Great White” embraced his opponent after the bout before stepping out of the cage to a wave of fanfare from the captivated UFC Vegas crowd.