Roberto Soldic walked into the octagon at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City facing an early test when Khaos Williams dropped him twice in the first round. Williams, known for his toughness and durability, landed heavy counters that rattled Soldic before the Croatian fighter secured a takedown to finish the round on the ground. The bout, the main card welterweight clash at the Delta Center, marked Soldic’s long-awaited UFC debut after a mixed run in ONE Championship.
Soldic arrived with a record of 21 wins, four losses, and one no contest, having made his name primarily in the Polish promotion KSW. There, he captured the welterweight title twice and collected a knockout win over future UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. He also held the middleweight belt after defeating KSW legend Mamed Khalidov in 2021. Of his 21 victories, 18 have come by way of knockout or technical knockout, lending Soldic the nickname “Robocop” for his finishing power.
Williams entered the fight fresh off snapping a two-fight losing streak, the first such skid of his career, with a first-round knockout against Nikolay Veretennikov in May. Holding a 7-4 record inside the UFC, Williams has earned a reputation for his resilience, having never been finished by strikes, making him an exacting challenge for a debutant like Soldic.
The opening round unfolded with Williams immediately asserting himself on the outside, targeting Soldic’s lead leg with straight punches. Soldic looked patient, waiting to unleash his signature left hand, but Williams countered swiftly. A jab from Soldic was answered by a powerful counter that sent him to the canvas. Though Soldic recovered quickly, Williams was relentless, landing another left hand that knocked Soldic down a second time.
Faced with mounting pressure, Soldic shifted tactics, taking Williams down to avoid further damage in the closing moments of the round. The crowd voiced disapproval at the takedown, having witnessed Williams’s striking dominance. MMA Fighting scored the first round 10-9 in favour of Williams.
The second round opened with Soldic landing a clean counter right hand, signaling a shift in momentum. He quickly followed with a sharp one-two combination that tested Williams’s stamina and balance. Williams responded with off-balance punches but showed remarkable durability, absorbing a head kick from Soldic without faltering. At this stage, Soldic appeared to control the action, pressing Williams and looking to capitalize on openings.
Mike Beltran officiated the bout, overseeing the exchanges and ensuring the fighters remained within the rules as the contest unfolded.
As Soldic settled into his UFC debut, the contrast between his knockout power and Williams’s toughness became clear. Williams’s ability to absorb punishment and keep moving forward forced Soldic to mix striking with grappling tactics. The fight displayed the complexity of stepping up to the UFC level, where opponents combine skill sets and mental resilience.
The contest at UFC 332 offered a glimpse of how Soldic’s aggressive style would fare against the unique challenges of the UFC welterweight division. Meanwhile, Williams reinforced his reputation as a durable competitor unafraid to trade shots and stand his ground in the face of a knockout artist.
The second round left the fight finely balanced, with Soldic seizing control through precise striking and Williams demonstrating the grit that has defined his UFC tenure. The bout continued to unfold at the Delta Center, with both fighters showing their strengths in front of a live crowd.
According to Yahoo Sports.
