“I aim to be a champion in ONE” – Roberto Soldic Talks Title Hopes, Zebaztian Kadestam at ONE Fight Night 10

When Roberto Soldic stepped inside the ONE Championship Circle for the first time last December, he had plans to assert himself in the promotion’s stacked welterweight division.

But that didn’t pan out after his opponent, Murad Ramazanov, hit him with an accidental low blow that rendered the Croatian star unable to continue, so the bout was ruled a no-contest.

In just over four weeks, however, Soldic will get his next chance to assert his stature in the weight bracket.

On Saturday, May 6th, The Home of Martial Arts will venture to the U.S. for the first time when it brings ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III to Denver, Colorado’s 1stBank Center.

“Robocop” is paired with former ONE Welterweight World Champion Zebaztian Kadestam on the histroic card, and World Title ramifications lie in the balance.

Speaking about his debut at ONE Fight Night 5, the former KSW two-division champion recalls that his game plan was working. The heavy-handed welterweight sensed opportunities coming that he was ready to take advantage of, until the low blow took the wind out of him.

“The knee was brutal because we were still fresh. He took me down in the first 10-20 seconds, I got up, and I felt that he was going to keep pushing. I knew he would lose a little energy, which was my game,” Soldic said.

“Everything was perfect, until that hit. The groin strike was really tough on me, and I used a foam cup. I am really professional, but I used this foam cup for ten years. I never thought that when I go to the Philippines, that was going to happen to me. I was ready for everything. But man, he just threw that knee, and I fell down.”
Soldic is amped up for his return to the Cricle on May 6th, and he’s not the only one.

Kadestam recently stated that he believes his tussle with Soldic will be the best in ONE’s welterweight history, and plenty of others share that sentiment.

Having achieved the highest accolades on the European circuit, Soldic is well-used to the bright light, so he plans to keep his excitement under control when he meets his Swedish foe.

And if Kadestam’s adrenaline gets the better of him, “Robocop” will be ready to capitalise.

“He’s confident. I understand this. This is a good chance for him. Before, I also fought guys who were motivated to defeat me. But maybe it will keep his confidence so high that he will make mistakes,” Soldic said.

“You cannot organize everything in the cage because of the adrenaline, and a fight is a fight. Training is something different. But it’s good that he said that. I said before that he is confident, and we will see.”

Their welterweight slugfest is bound to affect who challenges for the World Title next, and that prospect excites Soldic greatly.

He knows that a knockout of a former World Champion will put him on the shortlist for gold, and with 17 knockouts in 20 professional bouts, the Croatian crusher will be looking to leave no questions as to what his plans are.

“I aim to be a champion in ONE badly,” Soldic said.

“For now, MMA. I’ll try to take this belt, and then we will see. This is really a big thing for me, and I will try to finish as always.”