Daniel Rodriguez Fires Back at Daniil Donchenko's Callout

Daniel Rodriguez responded to Daniil Donchenko's UFC Paris callout with a middle finger emoji, making clear he has no interest in being anyone's stepping stone right now.

Donchenko called for the fight moments after finishing off a unanimous decision over Punahele Soriano on the UFC Paris main card, extending his win streak. Rodriguez didn't answer with words. He posted the callout to his Instagram story with a middle finger emoji layered over it and Drake's "I'm Upset" playing underneath, a pointed way of saying he didn't appreciate being singled out.

Why Donchenko Wants This Fight

Donchenko is building a case for himself as a legitimate welterweight threat, and beating a name like Daniel Rodriguez would fast track that. Donchenko has finished 11 of his 15 career wins and is undefeated in four UFC outings with two finishes. That is a fighter with real finishing instincts looking to jump the line, and Rodriguez, a veteran with a following and a spot in the rankings conversation, is exactly the kind of opponent who can turn a hot prospect into a bigger name overnight. Donchenko wants the fight before the end of the year, ideally in a five round main event slot at the APEX.

For Rodriguez, there's little short-term upside in taking a callout from a fighter with a fraction of his Octagon experience, especially while he is trying to rebuild momentum of his own.

What Rodriguez Is Dealing With Right Now

Rodriguez was working through a rough stretch even before Donchenko's callout landed. Rodriguez was on a three-fight winning streak when he was arrested in August 2025 for crossing the border into Mexico with marijuana. He spent nearly eight months in a Mexican prison before his release this past April. Rodriguez was stopped in 30 seconds by Uros Medic in his return fight, a brutal way to come back after that much time away from the cage. That context makes the middle finger response easy to read. Rodriguez isn't in a position where he wants to hand a red-hot prospect a signature win, not after the layoff and the knockout loss he just absorbed.

There's no fight agreement here, just a callout and a blunt reaction. If the UFC does eventually book it, expect Rodriguez's camp to lean on his experience against Donchenko's smaller sample size in the Octagon, while oddsmakers will be watching closely to see whether Rodriguez looks like the fighter who finished Santiago Ponzinibbio or the one who got put away by Medic in half a minute.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Daniel Rodriguez say about Daniil Donchenko's callout?

Daniel Rodriguez did not respond with words. He shared Daniil Donchenko's callout on his Instagram story with a middle finger emoji and Drake's "I'm Upset" playing in the background.

Why did Daniil Donchenko call out Daniel Rodriguez?

Daniil Donchenko called out Daniel Rodriguez immediately after beating Punahele Soriano by unanimous decision on the UFC Paris main card, hoping to land a bigger name for his next fight.

What has Daniel Rodriguez been through recently?

Daniel Rodriguez was on a three-fight winning streak before he was arrested in August 2025 for crossing into Mexico with marijuana, spent nearly eight months in a Mexican prison, and was stopped in 30 seconds by Uros Medic in his comeback fight.