TLDR
- Dricus du Plessis is open to a third fight with Roberto Soldic after Soldic’s UFC debut
- The two fighters split a pair of bouts in KSW in 2018, each winning by stoppage
- Soldic defeated Kalinn Williams by decision at UFC 332 on October 3
- Du Plessis says Soldic needs to earn several wins before a trilogy fight could happen
- Soldic would need to move up from welterweight to middleweight for the potential bout
Sources: sherdog.com | themaclife.com
Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis said he would welcome a third fight against Roberto Soldic following the Croatian fighter’s successful UFC debut earlier this month.
The two fighters have met twice before, splitting a pair of bouts under the KSW banner in 2018. Each fighter earned a stoppage victory in those meetings.
Du Plessis defeated Soldic by second-round technical knockout to win the KSW welterweight title in April 2018. Soldic then reclaimed the belt nearly six months later, knocking out du Plessis in the third round of their rematch.
#OnThisDay in 2018, Roberto Soldić crushed Dricus Du Plessis at welterweight! 🦾 pic.twitter.com/1SMRO0KjY0
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) October 6, 2026
After his time in KSW, du Plessis joined the UFC and eventually captured the middleweight championship. Soldic took a different path, competing in One Championship before signing with the UFC earlier this year.
Soldic Makes Successful UFC Debut
Soldic made his Octagon debut at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City on October 3. He defeated Kalinn Williams by unanimous decision in a welterweight bout.
During an interview with Fight Forecast, du Plessis shared his thoughts on Soldic joining the UFC roster. “It’s great,” du Plessis said about Soldic’s arrival.
“Soldic, for a long time, has been in many people’s minds the best fighter outside of the UFC,” du Plessis explained. “Yeah, he’s at welterweight. It’s 1-1.”
Du Plessis pointed out that success outside the UFC does not guarantee success inside the promotion. “Being the best outside of the UFC is not being the best in the UFC,” he said. “We have seen that many times. It’s on a different level.”
Weight Class Could Present Challenge
A potential trilogy fight would require Soldic to move up from welterweight to middleweight. Du Plessis has competed exclusively at 185 pounds since joining the UFC.
“You know, a super fight [could happen] down the line,” du Plessis said. “If he gets a couple of wins and says, ‘Okay, let’s do a middleweight fight.’ I think that would be amazing.”
Du Plessis expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of settling the score with his old rival. “I think that fight would be awesome,” he added.
The South African fighter made it clear that Soldic would need to earn his way to a trilogy bout first. He suggested that Soldic should rack up several victories in the UFC before such a fight could happen.
No official discussions about a trilogy bout have been confirmed by either fighter or the UFC. Soldic currently sits at welterweight, 15 pounds below du Plessis’s middleweight division.
Both fighters are now on the UFC roster for the first time in their careers. Their previous two meetings took place outside the promotion in 2018, making any potential third fight their first meeting under the UFC banner.
Du Plessis recently lost the UFC middleweight championship and is working his way back toward another title shot. Soldic is just beginning his UFC journey after one fight in the promotion.
