Soldić Meets Williams in UFC Debut

Roberto Soldić makes his UFC debut at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City on October 3. The former two-division KSW champion faces Khaos Williams at welterweight. The UFC has placed the bout on the main card: a prominent but demanding introduction for the 31-year-old.

Soldić is Croatian and has trained in Düsseldorf for years. He built a formidable reputation in European MMA; on the UFC stage, he now has to establish himself again. Williams brings an awkward combination: early knockout danger and years of UFC experience since his 2020 debut.

Two KSW belts, a difficult start at ONE

At KSW, Soldić won the welterweight title, regained it in a rematch after losing to Dricus du Plessis, and knocked out Mamed Khalidov in 2021. That made him champion at both welterweight and middleweight. He arrives with the résumé of an established champion, not a conventional UFC newcomer.

His move to ONE Championship was less straightforward. His first fight against Murad Ramazanov ended in a no contest after a low blow; he then suffered a knockout loss to Zebaztian Kadestam. In February 2025, he returned with a first-round knockout of Dagi Arslanaliev. Those three appearances explain why his UFC debut is both a fresh start and a measure of where he stands.

Williams offers more than a fast start

The UFC lists Williams at 16 wins and five losses, including nine victories by knockout. He stopped Alex Morono in 27 seconds on his UFC debut. Most recently, he finished Nikolay Veretennikov 3:31 into the first round in May 2026. Before that win, however, he had lost to Gabriel Bonfim and Andreas Gustafsson.

The quick knockouts do not tell his entire story: six of his professional wins came by decision. Soldić is facing neither a routine stepping stone nor a fighter whose danger disappears after the first exchange. Both can end a fight with one clean shot; control of the distance should determine who creates the better openings.

No gentle introduction

The bout sits on the UFC 332 main card, headlined by Natalia Silva and Wang Cong for the vacant women's flyweight title. CS.C has covered how that title fight came about. Soldić faces a different question: can the punching power that made him a KSW double champion hold up against an experienced UFC welterweight? Williams is an immediate, credible test.