Soldic Pursues Ranked Opponent At UFC Dallas

Roberto Soldic will meet Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Dallas on Jan. 16, the promotion's first event of 2027, MMA Fighting confirmed Monday.

The Starch first reported the matchup. Soldic, a former two-division KSW champion who moved to ONE Championship before signing with the UFC this year, beat Khaos Williams by unanimous decision at UFC 332 last month in his promotional debut. The 31-year-old Croatian held belts at both welterweight and middleweight in KSW before leaving the organization.

Rodriguez Returns After Knockout Loss

Rodriguez, ranked No. 14 at welterweight, was knocked out in 30 seconds by Uros Medic at UFC Serbia in August, snapping a three-fight winning streak. The California-based fighter spent several months in a Tijuana prison earlier in 2026 before his release in April.

Soldic carries an 18-2 record with one no-contest into the bout. Rodriguez stands at 20-6.

The Dallas card marks Soldic's first chance to crack the welterweight top 15 and his second appearance inside the octagon in three months.

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Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Roberto Soldic vs. Daniel Rodriguez targeted for UFC Dallas | MMA Fighting