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Soldic targets welterweight top 15 against Rodriguez at UFC Dallas in January

Roberto Soldić, fresh off a unanimous decision win over Khaos Williams at UFC 332, will face No. 14-ranked Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Dallas on January 16 — the promotion's first event of 2027.

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Soldic targets welterweight top 15 against Rodriguez at UFC Dallas in January
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Roberto Soldić will make his second UFC appearance against Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Dallas on January 16, MMA Fighting confirmed on Monday, in a welterweight bout that could push the Croatian newcomer into the division’s top 15.

Soldić (18-2, 1 NC) joined the UFC this year and wasted little time making an impression, earning a unanimous decision over Khaos Williams at UFC 332 last month. The 31-year-old brings significant pedigree to the matchup: a former two-division KSW champion who held both the welterweight and middleweight titles before spending several years competing in ONE Championship.

Rodriguez (20-6) has been a welterweight fixture in the UFC since 2020 but arrives at UFC Dallas on the back of a difficult stretch. The No. 14-ranked contender spent a significant portion of 2026 in a Tijuana prison before his release in April. His return to competition in August ended abruptly when Uros Medic knocked him out in just 30 seconds at UFC Serbia, snapping a three-fight winning streak.

UFC Dallas marks the promotion’s first card of 2027, and the Soldić–Rodriguez pairing gives the event a compelling welterweight storyline: an unproven newcomer with elite regional credentials looking to announce himself against a ranked veteran whose career has rarely followed a straight line.

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