Alex Morono signs contract with exciting fight on February 7

Alex Morono locked horns with the Prodigal Ultimate Fighter winner

For almost the past two years, Alex Morono had remained out of the profit column in the later stages of his business run before 2026. He suffered three consecutive defeats, losing his last cage appearance by first-round knockout to Carlos Leal. At the age of 35, and having already recorded nearly 40 professional bouts, it seemed like it was time to put his career on hold when he reached the final assignment of his UFC contract.

Alex Morono accepted a recommended preliminary scrap at UFC Vegas 113, “The Great White,” and prepared to walk into the Octagon in a final blaze of glory against Ukraine’s welterweight division’s newest top contender Daniil Donchenko.

As he navigated the competitive international circuit, Donchenko was on a five-fight win streak dating back to 2023, most notably winning the Naiza FC lightweight title and defending it once. The Tiger Muay Thai representative caught the attention of the UFC and Dana White and was invited to compete in the 33rd season of the venerable mixed martial arts tournament Ultimate Fighter. The European dominated the entire group and then destroyed the equally acclaimed Rodrigo Sezinando in the live final of Noche UFC 3 to score his contract with the organization.

Alex Morono shocks the world with gritty, bloody performance

Morono flew into Sin City and had every opportunity, both metaphorically and literally, with some online books using Donchenko as the protagonist. a huge favorite. Going into the match, many expected the formidable TUF champion to score an early knockout and hand the Gracie Barra Woodlands coach his fourth straight defeat. After an early down in the first round by Donchenko, that seemed to be the case.

However, Morono mustered all the heart and determination that comes with being a 15-year-old competitor and amazed the Apex crowd and the greater mixed martial arts community by weathering the storm and pushing the young phenom to the limit of his gas tank. Morono had lasted all the way to the last horn exactly 100 significant strikes by Donchenko, and even delivered forty of his own copies bloodied the emerging European at a certain point. “The Great White” lost a one-sided unanimous decision and hugged his opponent after the fight before stepping out of the cage to a wave of fanfare from the captivated UFC Vegas crowd.