TLDR
- Roberto Soldic won his UFC debut by unanimous decision against Kalinn Williams at UFC 332
- Soldic was dropped twice by Williams in the first round but recovered to control rounds two and three
- The former KSW champion fought for the first time in 18 months since leaving One Championship
- Soldic chose not to chase a knockout despite his reputation for finishing power
- The Croatian fighter enters the welterweight division with a past knockout win over former UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis
Sources: sherdog.com | sports.yahoo.com
Roberto Soldic earned a unanimous decision victory over Kalinn Williams at UFC 332 on Saturday in Salt Lake City, overcoming a difficult start to his Ultimate Fighting Championship career.
The former KSW champion was dropped twice by Williams in the first round but managed to recover and control the final two rounds to secure the win.
finally a competitive back & forth fight on this card
Roberto Soldic took a round to find his range and get going but when he did, started teeing off on khaos williams
ksw double champ a great addition to the ufc after a wasted four years in ONE #ufc332 pic.twitter.com/AzRObL7ITs
— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) October 4, 2026
Soldic Takes Patient Approach in Debut
Soldic entered the octagon with a reputation for knockout power but chose a different strategy against the experienced Williams. He did not chase a finish and instead focused on earning the decision victory.
“I didn’t rush. I just took my win,” Soldic said at the UFC 332 post-fight press conference. “I don’t want to prove I have to kill somebody. I have to win and just show my skills and that’s it.”
The Croatian fighter praised Williams for his toughness and experience. Williams entered the fight with a record of 16-5 and had competed 11 times in the UFC with a 7-4 record in the promotion.
“You can fight with one or two guys who fought in the UFC, but the guy had 11 fights in the UFC,” Soldic said. “That’s something different. He’s seen the crowds, the cage, the people. For me, it was all new. I came here as a guest.”
Soldic had not competed since February 2025 when he made his final appearance in One Championship. The 18-month layoff marked his longest time away from competition in recent years.
Fighter Shows Complete Skill Set After Layoff
Despite the early trouble, Soldic demonstrated multiple aspects of his game throughout the three-round fight. He landed punches, high kicks, and ground strikes while also showing his wrestling ability.
“He took all my punches,” Soldic said. “I showed that I can also wrestle, and he took a lot of punches, also crazy high kick, ground and pound, left hooks and right hook.”
The fighter known as “Robocop” expressed satisfaction with his conditioning after the extended break. He confirmed he felt capable of fighting five rounds and never grew tired during the contest.
“I hadn’t fought for one and a half years. Three rounds. This fight means a lot for me because I see I have the condition for five rounds, and I see I don’t get tired,” Soldic said. “I was always going forward.”
Soldic now enters one of the deepest divisions in the UFC at welterweight. He brings an impressive resume that includes a knockout victory over Dricus Du Plessis, who later became UFC middleweight champion.
The debut victory marks the beginning of Soldic’s journey in the UFC after successful runs in both KSW and One Championship. Williams falls to 16-6 overall and 7-5 in the UFC following the loss.
