In a move that has certainly captured the attention of the combat sports world, Roberto Soldic, widely recognized as the only fighter to secure a knockout victory over current UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis, is set to make a notable detour from his burgeoning mixed martial arts career. Fresh off a spectacular, highlight-reel knockout win under the ONE Championship banner, which seemed to signal a clear path forward in MMA after some inconsistencies, Soldic`s next confirmed bout will see him trade the multi-faceted challenges of the cage for the focused striking environment of the boxing ring.
An Unlikely Opponent and Setting
The opponent for Soldic`s professional boxing return is none other than Polish boxing legend Tomasz Adamek. At 48 years old, Adamek represents a different generation of combat athlete. His decorated career includes holding world titles in both the light heavyweight (WBC) and cruiserweight (IBF, The Ring) divisions before his official retirement in 2018.
However, Adamek`s retirement proved to be anything but permanent. He recently returned to action earlier in 2024, facing Mamed Khalidov – a fighter Soldic himself defeated via knockout in MMA four years prior. In that comeback fight, Adamek secured a victory over Khalidov via third-round injury TKO.
The upcoming clash between Soldic and Adamek is scheduled for September 6th and will take place in Gliwice, Poland. The event is promoted by FAME, a promotion known for its focus on crossover bouts and entertainment-driven matchups, which perhaps offers some context for this seemingly disparate pairing of a prime MMA fighter and a veteran boxing icon nearing his fifth decade.
Soldic`s Boxing Past and MMA Future
While primarily known as an elite MMA fighter, Soldic does hold an undefeated professional boxing record of 4 wins, all coming by way of knockout. However, this aspect of his combat history has been inactive since 2017. His focus since then has been almost exclusively on mixed martial arts, culminating in his high-profile move to ONE Championship.
This temporary shift naturally raises questions about Soldic`s long-term commitment to MMA and his trajectory within ONE. It also inevitably brings up the topic of his historical rivalry with Dricus du Plessis. Having split their two encounters under the KSW promotion (Soldic winning the second by knockout), fans have long speculated about a potential trilogy fight, particularly now that du Plessis holds UFC gold. Soldic himself has acknowledged the possibility, stating that both fighters are young enough that their paths could conceivably cross again in the future, despite their current affiliations with rival promotions.
For the moment, however, the prospect of `RoboCop` challenging for a title in the cage or settling his score with Du Plessis is paused. Instead, his attention is firmly fixed on the specific demands of a professional boxing match against a seasoned and much older opponent. This unexpected turn adds a unique, if somewhat puzzling, chapter to Roberto Soldic`s career narrative, highlighting the unpredictable nature of combat sports paths and the enduring appeal of cross-disciplinary matchups, even those spanning significant age gaps. The outcome of this bout and its implications for Soldic`s return to MMA will undoubtedly be closely watched.
