'Robocop' repaired: Roberto Soldic shifts into new gear ahead of long-awaited ONE 171 return
With confidence he's new and improved, Roberto Soldic returns Thursday at ONE 171 with the hope of quickly shaking the ghosts of his first two promotional appearances.
It's been a minute since he competed. Well, it's been more than a minute. It's actually been 21 months since Soldic (20-4) was knocked out by Zebaztian Kadestam in May 2023 – a shocking upset.
With nearly two more years of training and improving under his belt, Soldic, 30, aims to once again raise his reputation to that of what it was when he was one of the hottest free agents available in early 2023.
'I had so many opportunities after KSW,' Soldic recently told MMA Junkie. 'It was a really tough time for me in my career to decide where to go. Sometimes in life when too much opportunities (present), it's not good also. I don't know what to do. UFC called me. ONE Championship. KSW wanted that I stay there. For the mental thing, I think this was a really hard, hard time to decide what is good to choose. But I don't see anything wrong with ONE.'
Soldic's debut was underwhelming, as he was kneed in the groin by Murad Ramazanov and their bout was stopped just past the two-minute mark. With the encore against Kadestam be a knockout loss, Soldic understands the doubters are more populous.
'Sadly, in the beginning against Murad (Ramazanov), people talk like I lost the fight,' Soldic said. 'It's a no contest. The guy threw a hard knee in the groin and I couldn't continue. Sadly also after the Murad fight, six months later I had a fight with the former champion, former ONE champion Zebaztian (Kadestam). I can say I rushed. The first round I got him a couple times, and I want so hard to finish him. I use only my one weapon, the left hand. I didn't use everything I can get. I know I have more weapons in my skillset. I made a mistake. I threw the left hand to the body, and he caught me with a perfect elbow.
'I can say that out of 100 times, he do that one time maybe. I don't know. On that night, God was on his side. What can I say? You can see Demetrious (Johnson), also. He moved to ONE, he lost to former champion, even he with 12 or 13 UFC title defenses. Anything can happen on this level. The guys are really, really skilled and they are dangerous so I have to now have a chance to change this on Feb. 20 against a really tough guy, Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev. I'm really well prepared and with a new game plan and patience. I'll take this win.'
But Soldic thinks he's identified the mistakes and the holes in his game have been patched up. He plans to finally get that long sought-after first ONE win Thursday vs. Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev (9-2).
'I'll try to bring good performance with patience in a smart way,' Soldic said. 'It's not easy. It's a tough, tough sport. I have to do this to prove the people are wrong. Always guys comment this, that. I try to finish hard guys. That's it. This is my job. This is what I like. I am healthy. Thank God everything is on point from now and I'm ready to compete.'
'He's also an aggressive fighter with a 9-2 record. All his life, he was in ONE Championship. He lost to Christian, who is a ONE champion. He's been two years off. But he only lose to good guys, those two fights, two losses. In ONE Championship everyone is a good fighter. I accepted a really tough fight and I prepared for this. I know I can beat this guy and I never choose any opponent. My manager told me that guy, I sign. They told me Murad Ramazonov, I sign. they gave me a former champion, I sign. It doesn't matter to me. I want to compete. I want to be the best. If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best. So I accepted a tough fight and I'm ready for it.
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