Croatian Soldier Aims for ONE Welterweight Title Following Kadestam's Bizarre Weigh-in Mishap
In the whirlwind of ONE Championship's MMA welterweight division, Roberto Soldic is ready to grab the title shot that Zebaztian Kadestam seems to have inadvertently handed him. The Bangkok event on Friday was supposed to see Soldic face Isi Fitikefu in a presumed title eliminator, but Kadestam's failed weight cut brought the contest to a halt.
The Swedish powerhouse was surprisingly left awe-struck as Kadestam tipped the scales at a whopping 88.5kg, over 4kg above the welterweight limit. Soldic, expressing his disbelief, stated, "I've never seen anything like this. 4.5kg is just ridiculous. That's like two divisions heavier already. I was shocked."
Following the humorous yet audacious move by Kadestam, Soldic didn't hesitate to seize the opportunity. On his Instagram, he playfully joked, "Former world champion takes off his pants at 88.5kg, thinks it's 100 grams ... this is crazy. The fight has been postponed. I'm the next challenger for the belt."
Soldic despondently posting a video of himself making weight, paired with the caption, "Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but doing it like you love it," leaves no doubt about his determination to claim the title.
Despite Soldic's enthusiastic claims, Christian Lee, the welterweight champion, appears to still favor Kadestam, citing his May 2023 knockout victory over Soldic as justification. As of the latest information available (April 2025), no official announcement regarding Lee's next challenger has been made, and there's no mention of Kadestam missing weight in any recent reports. Nevertheless, the current situation puts Soldic and Kadestam in a heated competition for the welterweight title shot, with the June 2025 fight between Kadestam and Isi Fitikefu providing a critical turning point. If Kadestam emerges victorious, his standing as the frontrunner for Lee's title shot appears uncontested, but Soldic may still have a chance if he manages another high-profile victory or stylishly leverages organizational intervention to leapfrog Kadestam in the title contender queue.
Soldic's shock and disbelief were evident as Zebaztian Kadestian tipped the scales at 88.5kg, a whopping 4kg over the welterweight limit, mocking the sports' weight regulations. Despite Christian Lee, the welterweight champion, still favoring Kadestian based on his past victory, Soldic's Instagram joke about becoming the next challenger for the belt showcased his determination to claim the title, even amidst the uncertainty surrounding the title contender queue.
