Soldic overcomes two knockdowns to outclass Williams on UFC debut

Roberto Soldic weathered two first-round knockdowns to take control of his long-awaited UFC debut, defeating Khaos Williams by unanimous decision at UFC 332. The judges scored the welterweight contest 29-28, 29-27 and 29-27 in favour of Soldic.

Williams made a strong early impression, opening with inside kicks before landing a combination that sent Soldic to the canvas. The ONE Championship veteran recovered quickly but looked stiff and tentative as Williams settled into a rhythm using his octagon experience. A second knockdown followed shortly after, with Williams timing his counters well as Soldic hunted for a single decisive shot.

Soldic’s fortunes shifted in the second round. A straight left to the body visibly hurt Williams and appeared to drain his energy, allowing Soldic to open up with greater confidence. He secured a takedown and transitioned to ground and pound, unleashing heavy shots before the horn ended the round.

The pattern continued into the third. Soldic’s left hand repeatedly found its mark, and another takedown late in the fight saw him take Williams’s back as the clock wound down. Williams, to his credit, showed a durable chin throughout — a fact Soldic acknowledged in his post-fight remarks.

“I like USA crowd,” Soldic said after the decision was announced. “He take so many shots, he has a great chin. I see experience and Khaos is an amazing fighter. He hits hard. A tough opponent to welcome me here.”

Soldic, regarded as a significant free-agent acquisition for the UFC, justified that billing with a performance that combined sharp striking with effective grappling once he found his footing. The result positions him to step up against established welterweight contenders, with the hope that his UFC run will bring more consistent activity after prolonged periods of inactivity in recent years.