ONE 171: Roberto Soldic explains post-fight scuffle with Dagi Arslanaliev’s corner: “It’s a fight”

Roberto Soldic explained what started a post-fight scuffle between him and Dagi Arslanaliev at ONE 171: Qatar.

On Thursday, February 20, Soldic silenced the doubters by securing his first ONE Championship win, a first-round knockout against Arslanaliev.

Following the highlight-reel knockout, a second fight almost erupted when tempers flared between Soldic, Arslanaliec, and their cornermen.

During his post-fight interview with Mitch Chilson, Soldic had this to say about his point of view on the unexpected confrontation:

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"I just wanted to give my hand and explain what happened because he asked what happened. I speak a little bit of Russian, and he said that I hit him after the referee [stopped the fight]. But the referee was on my back. So, you know, I’m sorry for that. But it’s a fight, you know."

Roberto Soldic's destructive knockout against Dagi Arslanaliev was worthy of a $50,000 performance bonus, one of four at ONE 171: Qatar.

The other fighters to receive a $50,000 bonus were Kade Ruotolo, Ayaka Miura, Shamil Erdogan, and ONE strawweight MMA world champion Joshua Pacio.

The entire replay of ONE 171: Qatar, including the previously mentioned performance bonus finishes, can be seen via YouTube.

Watch Soldic's knockout against Arslanaliev below:

Roberto Soldic calls for rematch with Zebaztian Kadestam

In December 2022, Roberto Soldic fought under the ONE banner for the first time, leading to a no-contest when Murad Ramazanov accidentally landed a groin strike.

Five months later, Soldic's promotional tenure endured another setback due to a second-round knockout loss against Zebaztian Kadestam.

Following his win at ONE 171: Qatar, Soldic called for a rematch against Kadestam to avenge his defeat:

"I just went to say I want the belt. I want rematch with Kadestam. He got lucky the last time. But this time, [it’s a different] Robocop. I’m coming for the belt."

Roberto Soldic might have to wait for a rematch against Zebaztian Kadestam. Although it's unconfirmed by ONE, Kadestam could be next in line to challenge Christian Lee for the welterweight MMA world title.

Meanwhile, Soldic has proven he's a dangerous contender in the division, proving why he was once the most sought-after free agent in MMA.

About the author

Jake Foley is a journalist at Sportskeeda, specializing in covering all forms of combat sports, including MMA, Boxing, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai. His passion is ignited by the exceptional fusion of physical and mental skills demanded by world-class fighters in these sports. Jake is captivated by the intricate mix of fierce determination and a modest mindset exhibited by athletes in these disciplines. He also finds the atmosphere of major championships, like the epic clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, truly unparalleled.

Jake has earned his UFC credentials to cover the major events for Sportskeeda and has conducted several interviews.

Jake supports various teams across several professional sports, including the Las Vegas Raiders, Inter Miami, Norwich City, Miami Marlins, and Las Vegas Golden Knights. The sports moment Jake will never forget is Jon Jones dismantling Vladimir Matyushenko.

Since joining the SportsKeeda team, Jake has written 400 articles covering several MMA promotions, including the UFC and ONE Championship. He continues to work hard to maintain his journalistic integrity and tell the stories of fighters worldwide.

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Edited by C. Nayak