3 Potential Opponents For Roberto Soldic’s ONE Championship Debut
When Roberto Soldic signed with ONE Championship in early August, it sent shockwaves through the world of combat sports.
The possibilities seemed endless, with the Croatian superstar registering his interest in both mixed martial arts and kickboxing bouts in the organization.
However, Soldic said he’d like to introduce himself to the global fan base in MMA, where he’s built his most impressive body of work and became a two-division KSW Champion.
So far, one strong candidate has emerged.
After a stunning KO win at ONE on Prime Video 1 last Friday, former ONE Welterweight World Champion Zebaztian Kadestam offered himself up for a matchup – a proposal that Soldic later accepted.
However, it’s not the only possibility for the promotional newcomer.
Here, we look at three potential opponents for the Croatian’s highly anticipated debut in the ONE Championship Circle.
#1 Zebaztian Kadestam
Former welterweight king Kadestam has returned to form with back-to-back knockout wins in his previous two outings, giving him 12 KOs in 14 career victories.
Similarly, Soldic has 17 KOs in 20 career wins, so a matchup between them would practically guarantee fireworks.
On top of their MMA resumes, “The Bandit” was a WBC Muay Thai World Champion, while Soldic owns a perfect 4-0 slate in professional boxing – with all his victories inside the distance.
It would be a striking battle for the ages, as both athletes feaure immense skill and firepower, and it would also have major implications for the ONE Welterweight World Title picture.
#2 Murad Ramazanov
Russian phenom Murad Ramazanov would offer up a completely different stylistic matchup for Soldic.
The 11-0 man from Dagestan has showcased excellent wrestling and a punishing top game en route to three straight wins in ONE – including a decision over Kadestam.
And although Soldic has taken on top opponents in Europe, he’s never dealt with a wrestler of Ramazanov’s caliber.
If the explosive Croatian could pass this test against a top welterweight contender, there would be no doubting his sky-high potential in the division.
#3 Kiamrian Abbasov
While it’s likely that Soldic will need to beat one of the top contenders first, his stellar resume is proof that he could compete for the belt – and reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion Kiamrian Abbasov would surely accept the challenge.
“Brazen” has won his last four matches in the weight class, with three of those victories coming inside the distance.
But unlike the previous two names on this list, Abbasov is known for his incredible versatility – with strong tools in every range of combat.
The Kyrgyz star can seamlessly switch between his striking, wrestling, and submission games, which allows him to mix up his methods if something isn’t working.
This complete skill set would ask questions of Soldic’s all-around game, with the biggest prize at stake to motivate both elite competitors.
