When ONE Championship returns to U.S. primetime on Friday, December 2, with ONE on Prime Video 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin, all eyes will be on the promotional debut of Roberto Soldic. The Croatian’s free agency was hotly contested, but he chose to take his talents to ONE. Now he is set to debut against an undefeated welterweight contender wanting to steal his thunder.
Soldic draws Murad Ramazanov in his promotional debut. The Russian grappler has been perfect in his professional career and has worked his way to the top of the welterweight division. The meeting of the two warriors could be a title eliminator for the ONE Welterweight World Championship, and Soldic is ready for the challenge.
“Robocop” knows the strength of Ramazanov is his wrestling, but he is not taking his other skills for granted. In today’s mixed martial arts landscape, he knows everybody is well-rounded. However, he does not want anybody to sleep on his own grappling skills just because he has been a knockout force to date.
“People think I don’t train wrestling because I finished my fights in the stand-up, but I have done wrestling every day for ten years, you know? But I don’t have any competition. I just [do what I need] to do in MMA because I switched this to MMA. It’s not wrestling. So for Murad, 11-0, same age as me, I think I have more experience than him and the toughest fights. I also had better opponents, but I never underestimate anyone. I’m more hungry than him because he’s now 3-0 in ONE Championship. I don’t have any fights because they give me straight away Murad, and I’m just like a new cookie there, and he knows everything. I think I’m more experienced than him. I had the tougher fights,” said Soldic.
What will set him apart from Ramazanov inside the Circle? Soldic believes it will be his power. Even though his record shows the knockouts he has accrued to date, feeling it in person is something he believes the Russian is not prepared for on December 2. When Ramazanov does taste that power, Soldic believes it will spell an early night for the unbeaten welterweight.
“When I go in the cage, it will be different. Nobody feels my wrestling and power, and when they go in the cage, and then they see it, you cannot see this on the video. But when you stay here in the cage with me, I really give you problems. And if you don’t watch out, it will be quick. I believe in myself, what can I say? It’s a very tough opponent for me, and I like this. I cannot wait for the fight,” said Soldic.
The meeting of welterweight contenders will be part of a stacked Prime Video event, free to all U.S. and Canadian Amazon Prime members. The highly-anticipated debut of “Robocop” will be can’t-miss action.
December 2 | ONE on Prime Video 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin | 8 p.m. EST | 5 p.m. PST
Fans in the U.S. and Canada can watch for free with an Amazon Prime subscription!
