Roberto Soldic admits UFC pay 'not even close' to ONE deal after 'depressing' stint on sidelines

Roberto Soldic is finally set to arrive in the UFC. But it didn't come without spending several precious prime years of his career stuck on the sidelines.

Prior to his recent UFC signing, Soldic was with ONE Championship in Asia , having joined the promotion in 2021 as one of the hottest free agents in MMA after years of dominance in Poland's KSW promotion as a two-weight champion. When Soldic signed with ONE, he did so on a monster deal that came with big promises attached. Speaking on Wednesday's edition of "The Ariel Helwani Show," Soldic acknowledged that his ONE contract was far more lucrative than his new UFC contract, and that it's "not even close."

Even during Soldic's 2021 free agency, the initial offer UFC presented him had a bit more financial incentive than what he ended up accpeting in 2026.

"I'm happy," Soldic told Uncrowned. "I think I had the best offer [the first time] as a fighter before deciding. I can say this. I had a very good offer, but ONE was a little bit bigger offer.

"I took this chance to go in ONE because they promised me I could do some kickboxing stuff, Muay Thai stuff, so I liked this. They offered me 10 fights, but I [ended up doing] only three. Contract expired. It is what it is. I'm happy now with the UFC. It's a good offer, and I want to stay here."

Soldic, 31, isn't the first high-profile MMA fighter under the ONE banner to depart the company in 2026 due to activity-related frustrations. He ultimately fought just three times in nearly five years with ONE, and only once since May 2023.

Soldic wishes he could have seen his initial expectations met from his 10-fight deal, though he acknowledges that he never experienced issues with his financial treatment on the rare occasions he was able to actually secure opportunities to fight.

"They pay always on time. I don't have any trouble with the payments," Soldic said. "I don't know what's going on with ONE. I think they like more striking fights in Japan and in Thailand, and there are really, really good guys there as strikers.

"[But] I don't know what's happened with MMA [in ONE] — I know so many guys left ONE as MMA fighters. And kickboxing is also on the highest level [in the promotion], and Muay Thai. But … as a fighter, before in ONE Championship, I can say everything was on time when they paid me, so I don't know what's happening. I don't think it's a financial situation, but [the] media is writing everything [about the promotion's ongoing troubles], so, who knows?"

At UFC 332 on Oct. 3 in Salt Lake City, Soldic makes his long-awaited UFC debut at welterweight opposite Khaos Williams. It will be his first MMA fight since February 2025.

In the meantime, Soldic did his best to stay active, defeating Tomasz Adamek via second-round TKO in a boxing match with Polish organization Fame one year ago.

Soldic said he doesn't have any regrets about signing with ONE, but admitted he was frustrated throughout his time there, missing out on seven fights he was promised.

"It's more frustrating that I stayed, like, semi-retired," Soldic said. "This was the most frustrating. It's hard to deal with because I train hard always, always in shape, and I just didn't get a fight. Sometimes I asked myself, why I train so hard when I don't have a fight?

"It was a hard time, a little bit depressing, but I stayed strong and am moving forward."