Roberto Soldic Demands ONE Title Shot After Zebaztian Kadestam’s Massive Weight Miss
Fight fans, we’ve got some serious drama brewing in ONE Championship! Roberto Soldic isn’t playing around anymore – he wants his shot at the gold after what went down in Bangkok last Friday.
If you missed it, Zebaztian Kadestam showed up a whopping 4.5kg (nearly 10 pounds!) overweight for their scheduled welterweight clash. That’s not just missing weight – that’s practically fighting in a different division!
Soldic Unleashes After Kadestam’s Scale Fail
I’ve been covering combat sports for years, and let me tell you, weight misses like this don’t just happen by accident. Kadestam’s massive scale fail has opened the door for Soldic to make his case, and he’s not being subtle about it.
“When you prepare for months, make all the sacrifices, and your opponent doesn’t even try to make weight, it’s disrespectful to the sport,” Soldic told reporters after the incident. “I’m ready for Christian Lee. I’ve proven myself time and again.”
The Welterweight Title Picture
Christian Lee currently holds the ONE welterweight strap, but he hasn’t defended it since late 2023. The division needs fresh blood, and Soldic brings exactly what fans want – devastating knockouts and an aggressive style that makes matchmakers salivate.
Let’s look at how Soldic stacks up against recent title challengers:
| Fighter | ONE Championship Record | Finishes | Title Shot Worthiness (1-10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberto Soldic | 3-0 | 2 KOs | 9 |
| Zebaztian Kadestam | 4-2 | 3 KOs | 6 (after weight miss) |
| Last Title Challenger | 3-1 | 1 KO | 7 |
Why This Weight Miss Matters
Missing weight by almost 5kg isn’t just unprofessional – it’s potentially dangerous. Soldic agreed to fight anyway (because that’s the kind of warrior he is), but this situation highlights why weight classes exist in the first place.
ONE Championship uses hydration testing alongside weight limits to prevent dangerous weight cutting, which makes Kadestam’s miss even more concerning. He wasn’t just dehydrated – he was simply too heavy.
What’s Next for Soldic?
Chatham Chatri Sityodtong, ONE’s outspoken CEO, hasn’t officially commented on Soldic’s title aspirations yet, but matchmakers would be crazy not to consider him. The Croatian knockout artist brings exactly what the promotion needs right now – star power and finishing ability.
If I’m booking fights, I’m making Soldic vs. Lee tomorrow. This is the kind of matchup that sells itself, with Soldic’s ground game being the only question mark against Lee’s well-rounded skillset.
Fan Reaction
MMA Twitter erupted after Kadestam’s weight miss, with most fans firmly in Soldic’s corner. One fan tweeted: “Soldic deserves better than this. Give him the title shot now!” Another added: “How do you miss by 4.5kg? That’s not even trying. Soldic vs Lee needs to happen!”
The Bottom Line
Weight misses happen in combat sports, but rarely this dramatically. Soldic has every right to be upset, and his callout of Christian Lee makes perfect sense given the circumstances.
Will ONE Championship reward Soldic’s professionalism with a title opportunity? Given his impressive performances so far, it would be shocking if they didn’t. This is the fight business, and right now, Soldic is hot business.
What do you think? Does Soldic deserve the next shot at Christian Lee’s welterweight title? Let me know in the comments!
Source: South China Morning Post