The Kazakh MMA star Alibi Idris (10-0) will certainly not feel lonely during the filming of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) since another league champion NAIZA - Ukrainian Daniil Donchenko (11-2) will be joining him. A correspondent from Vesti.kz shares insights about this promising fighter who may enter the UFC through TUF.
As you may know, there is only one winner in the TUF Grand Prix, but in this case, you can root for both Alibi and Daniil. The reason is that the former will compete in the flyweight division, while the latter will fight in the welterweight category. Season 33 will feature fighters from these two divisions.
Idris has already admitted that having Donchenko by his side, with whom he shares a friendship, will be a plus. This will make it easier for him to adapt to the new American environment. The TUF participants will live in one large house, and considering Alibi's language barrier, he may need help with communication at first. Donchenko speaks English, so this won’t be a problem for him.
Became NAIZA Champion and Defended His Title in Two Years
Generally, the 23-year-old Donchenko fights in the lightweight division, but he will participate in TUF among welterweights to make weight management easier. He joined the Kazakh league NAIZA in 2022 when his professional record consisted of four wins and one loss.
Over the past two years, Daniil has achieved seven victories and suffered one defeat (5-1 in NAIZA). His only loss occurred in October 2023, when he lost by unanimous decision to Kanibek Zhanybek Uulu from Kyrgyzstan. However, he managed to defeat him less than a year later in a title rematch, forcing him to submit in the fourth five-minute round.
Among Kazakh fighters, Donchenko has defeated Arkhat Mynbaev by knockout and Rustem Kudaybergenov by decision. Notably, in the latter case, he defended his champion title - this was his last fight as of now, which took place in November 2024.
Additionally, the fighter has expressed his desire to become the first double champion in NAIZA history. He mentioned his readiness to either move up to 77 kilograms or drop down to 66. However, if he manages to break into the UFC through TUF, these goals will understandably become less relevant.
Has International Experience and Has Not Lost by Finish
Besides competing in the NAIZA league, Donchenko has also fought in several Ukrainian organizations, as well as in prominent promotions like UAE Warriors , ONE Championship , and Top Brights . He began his professional fighting career at the age of 18.
After 13 bouts, he has secured 11 wins and suffered two losses. Notably, none of his opponents have been able to finish Daniil. He himself has ended nine out of his 11 victories early - seven by knockout and two by successful submissions.
By the age of 23, Donchenko has indeed come a long way for an MMA fighter, and he possesses significant potential. Moreover, he is doing well not only in sports but also in promotion. The well-known Kazakh manager Sayat Abdrakhmanov is handling his affairs.
"Sayat is really that person for me; when he messages me, I immediately feel a surge of energy! I metaphorically want to run 10 kilometers (laughs). He motivates me a lot. I know my coaches and Sayat are behind me. I just understand that I am not alone, and I absolutely cannot lose in front of them because I have such strong people supporting me. This is truly a powerful additional motivation. As a second, he has a lot of experience, having cornered many in the UFC and before that. I just step in, and he already knows how to get me focused. He is a real professional in his field," - he shared in an interview with Nurbek Karabala .
Multilingual and in a Relationship with a Well-Known Manager in Kazakhstan
Donchenko excels not only in sports but also in other areas of life. He speaks four languages: Ukrainian, Russian, French, and English, and he has also stated that he is studying Kazakh.
In Thailand, he has extensive experience working together and sparring with renowned fighters like Damir Ismagulov , Arman Tsarukyan , and Rafael Fiziev . All of them, like Daniil, are fighters of Sayat.
Donchenko is not married and has no children, but a few months ago, news broke about his relationship with the well-known manager in Kazakhstan, Ulzhan Musakhanova . She is the daughter of the esteemed boxing coach Sagatbek Musakhanov , mentor to Ali Akhmedov and other famous boxers.
Currently, Ulzhan manages several well-known boxers, including Balauza Muzdiman (6-0, 5 KOs), Zhankosh Turarov (28-0, 20 KOs), and Nurzhan Serikbaev (5-0, 5 KOs), as well as MMA fighter from Russia, Khabib Bulachov (7-1). She claims to be the first female promoter in the CIS.
It is worth noting that the coaches for season 33 of TUF will be superstar Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen . Whether Donchenko and Idris will end up with the same coach remains to be seen. For now, the most important thing is for them to arrive in the USA and pass their medical exams successfully. Both have their visas ready, and they are motivated; the most exciting part is ahead!
If both champions of the NAIZA league ultimately become winners of the TUF show and secure exclusive contracts with the UFC, it would mark a historic achievement for Kazakh MMA.
Additionally, the filming of the 33rd season will commence in the spring in Las Vegas (Nevada, USA). For more information about the TUF show, read our article linked here .