Soldić is a member of University of Fighting Gym Düsseldorf from Düsseldorf, Germany, where he trains under the tutelage of the gym's owner and manager Ivan Dijaković.
Background
Soldić was born to Croat parents in Vitez, Bosnia and Herzegovina. While at school, Soldić played soccer before joining a local judo gym in Vitez. Soldić soon realized that he preferred martial arts and he decided to dedicate himself to judo and followed by mixed martial arts (MMA). Given that there were no adequate conditions for training in his hometown of Vitez, Soldić was improvised and trained at various gyms in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.[2]
In 2015, Soldić met his current coach and manager Ivan Dijaković. That same year, Soldić moved to Düsseldorf, Germany, and started training at UFD Gym Düsseldorf, where he was able to completely dedicate himself to the sport. In the following two years and Soldić started to be considered as one of the biggest European MMA prospects.[2]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Soldić made his MMA debut 19 September 2014 at AFC 3: Arti Fighting Championship 3 in Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina in the lightweight division against Ante Alilović.[6] He won via TKO in the second round (2:50). In the same year, he scored another win when he defeated Mladen Ponjević via submission (guillotine choke) in the first round (00:35) at a MMA event in Metković, Croatia.[7]
Serbian Battle Championship
Roberto Soldić scored his first major win and attracted local media attention at Serbian Battle Championship: SBC 5 in May 2015 in Odžaci, Serbia, where he fought Vladimir Prodanović. He defeated Prodanović via TKO in the second round (1:30).[8]
About a year later, Soldić became SBC lightweight champion. He won the title at SBC 8 that took place 5 March 2016 in Sombor, Serbia, when he defeated experienced Montenegrin fighter Vaso Bakočević via TKO in the third round.[9][10][11]
In his third SBC match at SBC 14 that took place 8 July 2017 in Bačka Palanka, Serbia, Soldić defeated Slobodan Vukić from Bosnia and Herzegovina via KO in the first round (1:04) in a non-title bout.[12]
Soldić suffered his first professional setback at MFC 3: Montenegro Fighting Championship 3, that took place in Budva, Montenegro, 27 July 2015. He lost to Marko Radaković via unanimous decision. After two rounds, judges decided in favor of Radaković which caused upset in regional MMA circles and media which claimed that Soldić scored more points. His coaches also revealed to the media that the organizers made last-minute changes to the rules, since the match was initially set for three rounds.[13][14]
Roberto Soldić won his second MMA title at SMMAC: Swiss MMA Championship 4 that took place 1 October 2016 in Basel, Switzerland. In a welterweight title bout that also served as the main event, Soldić defeated Pascal Kloser via TKO in the first round (1:34). This bout was the beginning of his winning streak and the hype of being the biggest fighting sports prospect from Southeast Europe.[15]
Final Fight Championship
Immediately after winning the SMMAC belt, Soldić was offered a fight at FFC: Final Fight Championship for the vacated welterweight title that was previously held by Laszlo Senyei.[13] Previously to that, Soldić made his FFC debut in October 2015 at FFC 20 in Zagreb, Croatia, against Saša Drobac. Soldić outworked his opponent in all three rounds and scored a dominant win via unanimous decision.
Soldić and his team decided to take a shot at the Final Fight Championship title against one of the most experienced Croatian MMA veterans Ivica Trušček at FFC 27 – Night of Champions that took place 17 December 2016 in Zagreb, Croatia.[16] After a high kick that stunned Trušček, Soldić began a ground-and-pound leading to referee Grant Waterman stopping the match. Roberto Soldić thus became the FFC welterweightchampion in a match prior to which he was considered the underdog in comparison to his more popular and experienced opponent.[17][18]
Superior FC
Roberto Soldić made his Superior FC debut in a welterweight title bout at Superior FC 16 that took place 11 March 2017 in Darmstadt, Germany, Soldić defeated Poland's Rafael Lewon via TKO in the third round (1:56). It was fourth title Soldić won in less than a year.[19][20][21][22] At Superior FC 18, Soldić defended his title for the first time when he defeated Dez Parker via TKO in the first round (3:29).[23][24]
Cage Warriors
On 14 October 2017, Roberto Soldić made his Cage Warriors Fighting Championship debut at CWFC 87 when he locked horns with Lewis Long. Despite his dominant wins and four belts, Soldić was considered an underdog again. However, Soldić defeated his opponent in the first round.[25][26] Soldić stunned Long with a brutal high kick and then he finished him with ground-and-pound.[27][28][29]
KSW
In December 2017, two months after his win in the match against Lewis Long, Roberto Soldić stepped into the cage for the fifth time in one year in Polish MMA promotion Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW). By stepping up on ten days’ notice and accepting a welterweighttitle bout, Soldić decided to take the biggest test in his professional career.[30] His opponent was experienced champion Borys Mankowski. Mankowski's original opponent Dricus du Plessis was forced to withdraw from the match quoting an injury.[31] Soldić defeated Manakowski in the KSW 41 main event. After three rounds, Mankowski and his team decided to give up due to sustained damage.[32] This performance brought Soldić media attention in Poland and across Europe.[31][33] With this win, Soldić won his fifth belt. Besides his original team in the corner, Sodić was also advised by Hector Lombard.[34][35] Soldić then called out du Plessis.[36]
Soldić moved up to middleweight to face former KSW Middleweight champ, Michał Materla, on 14 November 2020 at KSW 56: Poland vs. Croatia. Roberto won the fight via first-round TKO.[39]
Soldić made his promotional debut against Murad Ramazanov on December 3, 2022, at ONE on Prime Video 5.[46] During the middle of round one, Ramazanov accidentally connected with a knee to the groin of Soldić, who could not continue. The fight was declared a no contest.[47]
Soldić faced Zebaztian Kadestam on May 5, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 10.[48] Soldić was hit with a counter elbow before losing the fight via TKO in the second round.[49]
Boxing career
Roberto Soldić has pursued a career in professional boxing. He made his professional boxing debut on 2 April 2016 an event in Düsseldorf, Germany, in the light heavyweight division. He defeated Goran Ristić via KO in the first round.[50]
On 17 September 2016, Soldić scored his second boxing win in Göppingen, Germany, where he defeated Milan Rus.[50]
Soldić had his third professional boxing match on 11 February 2017 at an event in Düsseldorf, Germany. He scored a win over Nemanja Kragulja.[50]
He scored his fourth win in the boxing ring on 16 November 2017 also in Düsseldorf, Germany, against Slaviša Simeunović via TKO.[51]
