LAS VEGAS – Danylo Voievodkin entered Dana White’s Contender Series 73 with heavy hands and a heavy heart.
It took Voievodkin (7-0) a total of 73 seconds to finish opponent Bailey Schoenfelder (5-1), prove the oddsmakers wrong as a +526 underdog, and earn his UFC contract.
“To be honest with you, I still do not believe it,” Voievodkin told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference Tuesday. “It’s the greatest day of my life.”
Despite the elation of living out a dream, Voievodkin also felt sadness. As he revealed during his post-fight interview on the broadcast, Voievodkin lost a friend, Roman Golovatyuk, who was killed in the Russia-Ukraine war. He dedicated the performance to his memory.
“He was a European world champion in WAKO kickboxing,” Voievodkin said. “We met at competitions. We met together at training camps. He was just an amazing guy. He was always beating me up. I grew up a lot training with him. During the first days of work, he went, as a warrior, to defend his country and died as a hero.”
Keeping his friend’s memory alive, Voievodkin enters the UFC proud to represent his home country – and he thinks that pride is a two-way street.
“I think all of the country was on their feet during this moment, even though it’s night,” Voievodkin said. It means a lot to my friends. My family is very happy. In the future, I want to be in the UFC’s top five and continue to show great performances.”
Voievodkin, 24, attributed his large underdog status Tuesday to two main factors: nationality and ignorance of amateur credentials.
“To be honest, if I had not been Ukrainian but American citizen, I’d be a favorite. I was sure of my victory,” Voievodkin said. “… Everybody only judges professional fights. But I have tons of amateur fights and I have beaten way stronger opponents in there than him.”
As for when he’d like to debut in the UFC, Voievodkin indicated in the early parts of 2025 would be prime.
“To be honest, I hadn’t thought of it but perhaps after the new year or beginning of the new year,” Voievodkin said. “What opponent it will be, it doesn’t matter. In the cage will show who is the better opponent. That’s pretty much it. It’s all in God’s will.”
