Roberto Soldic Signs with UFC, Set for Welterweight Run

Roberto Soldic has reportedly signed with the UFC, bringing one of European MMA's most feared finishers into the welterweight division. The 31-year-old Croatian, nicknamed "Robocop," arrives with a 21-4 record and one no contest, and the promotion has already added him to its official fighter listings.

No opponent or debut date has been announced yet, but the move ends a stretch of free agency that began when Soldic's ONE Championship contract expired.

Why Roberto Soldic Is Such a Dangerous Addition at 170

Soldic doesn't just win fights, he ends them. Nineteen of his 21 career victories have come by stoppage, including 18 knockouts, a finishing rate that few fighters entering the UFC at any weight can match. That reputation was built over an eight-win, one-loss run as a two-division champion in Poland's KSW promotion, where he held both the welterweight and middleweight titles at the same time.

The signature win on his resume came against Dricus du Plessis, now the UFC middleweight champion. Du Plessis stopped Soldic at KSW 43 in April 2018 to take the welterweight belt, but Soldic answered six months later at KSW 45, knocking out du Plessis in the third round to reclaim the title. He also holds a highlight-reel knockout of former KSW standout Mamed Khalidov, stopping him in the second round in 2021.

His time in ONE Championship, by contrast, was brief and largely inactive. Soldic fought just three times for the promotion over more than two years, going 1-1 with a no contest, before closing out his run with a first-round knockout of Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev at ONE 171 in Qatar this past February.

What Soldic's UFC Arrival Means for the Welterweight Picture

A fighter with Soldic's finishing instincts and championship pedigree gives UFC matchmakers a genuine problem to solve. He's fought at both welterweight and middleweight in his career, but the plan is for him to begin his UFC tenure at 170 pounds, a division that hasn't lacked for punchers but has few with his combination of volume knockouts and two-belt success against legitimate competition.

Betting Angle

Until a debut opponent is named, there's no line to react to, but expect Soldic to open as a live betting proposition in almost any welterweight matchup the UFC gives him. Bettors who followed his KSW run know he's rarely been in a dull fight. His stoppage rate suggests early markets will likely price him as a heavy favorite against action lines to end the fight inside the distance, provided he's not fast-tracked into the deep end of a stacked division. How the matchmakers book his first fight, gatekeeper test or ranked veteran, will shape the number more than anything else at this point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Roberto Soldic signed with the UFC?

Yes, Roberto Soldic has reportedly signed with the UFC and has been added to the promotion's official fighter listings, though no debut opponent or date has been announced.

What is Roberto Soldic's MMA record?

Roberto Soldic enters the UFC with a 21-4 record and one no contest, including 19 stoppage wins, 18 of them by knockout.

What weight class will Roberto Soldic fight in for the UFC?

Roberto Soldic is expected to compete at welterweight (170 pounds) for his UFC run, despite having also fought at middleweight during his KSW career.