After two back-to-back knockouts, former ONE Welterweight World Champion Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam admits his confidence is at an all-time high. The Swedish slugger returns to the ONE Championship Circle against Roberto “Robocop” Soldic at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III – the organization’s on-ground debut show in the U.S. on Friday, May 5 – looking to continue where he had left off.

Following three defeats on the trot to Kiamrian “Brazen” Abbasov, Gadzhimurad Abdullaev, and Murad Ramazanov, the Legacy Gym and Pancrase Gym Sweden representative knew he had to switch things up in his camp to mount another path towards the divisional crown.

Riding two consecutive victories, Zebaztian Kadestam was high on confidence

He didn’t just return to winning ways against Valmir da Silva Barbosa and the late Iuri Lapicus last year. Instead, he did so with two highlight-reel first-round finishes.

Speaking on the confidence those two knockout wins gave him, Kadestam said, “I’m doing good. And with these two knockouts, my confidence is at an all-time high. I’m not up in the sky, my toes are still touching the ground, but my confidence is back where it should be. I believe I am one of the best and that’s when I have my confidence.” 

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“The Bandit” finished Barbosa at ONE: FULL CIRCLE in February last year courtesy of his heavy punching power. The Swede slugger went at his rival from the get-go, eventually closing the tie in 86 seconds. Then, at ONE on Prime Video 1 in August 2022, the 32-year-old needed just 57 seconds to knockout Lapicus.

Zebaztian Kadestam was all game for the high-profile bout but wasn’t overconfident

Although the former welterweight king’s confidence was instilled, he refused to get over-confident as he knew there were tougher tests ahead. Kadestam added, “I’ve had a lot of fights in ONE. I’ve won and defended the title, and this is the fight that is against – I fought Ben Askren and I think this is kind of the same. I think this fight is bigger than the Ben Askren fight.”

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“It’s a name. Everybody knows him, he has all the hype, and I want it.” 

The Swede slugger, however, will need every bit of confidence that can provide him a better mental fortitude as he crosses paths with Soldic at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III on Friday, May 5.