Roberto Soldic: “Best KO 2025” - Roberto Soldic’s brutal one-shot killer of Dagi Arslanaliev at ONE 171 has fans absolutely awestruck

ONE 171 may have produced an early frontrunner for 2025’s Knockout of the Year after Roberto Soldic delivered a stunning finish against Dagi Arslanaliev last Thursday, Feb. 20, at Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar.

The Croatian hard-hitter may have walked away with the victory, but he initially had to overcome an early scare to deliver a highlight-reel knockout in his welterweight MMA showdown opposite the 2019 ONE Lightweight MMA World Grand Prix finalist.

Arslanaliev came out aggressive, dropping Soldic with a solid overhand right. However, the former KSW two-division champion weathered the storm, regrouped, and spectacularly turned the tables.

As the Turkish bruiser intended to land a body kick, Soldic countered with a perfectly timed left hook that sent him crashing face-first to the canvas.

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Referee Mohamad Sulaiman stepped in immediately, waving off the bout at the 1:55 mark of the opening round and awarding "Robocop" a decisive stoppage victory.

With this victory over Arslanaliev, Soldic upgraded his win-loss ledger to 21-4, securing his 19th career knockout while also earning a $50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

ONE Championship wasted no time sharing the electrifying moment on Instagram, sparking widespread fan reactions:

Liam Harrison applauds Roberto Soldic for scary KO win

Among those who took notice of Roberto Soldic’s one-punch stoppage was British Muay Thai legend Liam Harrison.

The former ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title contender marveled at Soldic’s raw power on Instagram:

“The power was absolutely outrageous… The power in ‘Robocop’s’ left hand is crazy.”

Now, with momentum on his side, Soldic has his sights set on bigger opportunities.

In his post-fight interview with color commentator Mitch Chilson, he lobbied for a shot at the ONE welterweight MMA world championship, currently held by two-division world titleholder Christian Lee.

Additionally, he is eyeing a grudge match against former ONE welterweight MMA world champion Zebaztian Kadestam, who knocked out Soldic in May 2023.

About the author

A sports journalist with over 10 years of experience, Nissi Icasiano has previously contributed to well-known platforms such as Rappler, Tiebreaker Times, International Business Times, ABS-CBN News, and currently, Sportskeeda. With a background in Legal Management, his attention to detail and thorough research shape his journalistic style.

Nissi specializes in MMA, particularly ONE Championship, and his love for the sport is evident in his in-depth coverage of its athletes and events. He has reported on major milestone events, including Demetrious Johnson’s final fight at ONE Championship's first U.S. event.

Nissi's hands-on experience in the sport of boxing enhances his understanding of combat sports. His dedication towards delivering informative and compelling content makes him a reliable source for MMA fans.

In his spare time, Nissi takes joy in spending time with his young daughter.

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Edited by Tejas Rathi