Roberto Soldić will have the chance to step into the top 15 welterweights in the world as early as his second appearance under the UFC banner. He is expected to face Daniel Rodriguez (20-6), currently the 14th-ranked fighter on the official divisional rankings.
The Soldić-Rodriguez bout is scheduled for 16 January in Dallas, at the first UFC event of 2027. The information was first reported by The Starch, and subsequently confirmed by MMA Fighting and journalists Damon Martin and Mike Heck. The UFC has not yet officially announced the pairing.
Fight Site wrote about the possibility of a Soldić-Rodriguez encounter on 1 November. Soldić stated on social media that he has a date booked for his next appearance, while the American further fuelled speculation with his own Instagram post. According to MMA Fighting, Rodriguez is set to be Soldić's next obstacle.
It will be the seventh UFC event in Dallas and the organisation's first return to the city since UFC 277, held in July 2022.
Soldić is a former two-time KSW welterweight and middleweight champion. In early October, he defeated Khaos Williams by unanimous decision at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, despite being seriously rattled by Williams in the opening round. The fighter from Nova Bile imposed his own rhythm after initial difficulties, securing a victory after a full 15 minutes. During four years under the Singapore-based organisation, he made only three appearances, whereas in the UFC he could record two fights within just over three months.
Rodriguez is a 39-year-old American and a UFC member since 2020. Over 15 appearances in the organisation, he has built a reputation as a tough and experienced boxer, with professional victories over Kevin Holland, Jingliang Li and Santiago Ponzinibbio. He had won three consecutive fights prior to his most recent bout.
In August, he faced Uroš Medić at a UFC event in Belgrade, where he was knocked out after just 30 seconds of the first round. Medić had previously been mentioned as a potential opponent for Soldić.
