Ever since he began his professional MMA career back in 2014, Roberto “Robocop” Soldic has tried to mold himself after his Croatian compatriot and combat sports icon, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. 

On May 5, “Robocop” will have the opportunity to take one massive step closer to greatness when he takes on former ONE Welterweight World Champion Zebaztian Kadestam, live from 1stBank Center in Colorado at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III on Prime Video – the organization’s groundbreaking debut on American soil.

Roberto Soldic was tracing the footsteps of his idol Mirko Filipovic pretty well

With his 85 percent knockout rate, Soldic is one of MMA’s most feared strikers, emulating the legendary Filipovic, who fought the best of the best in both kickboxing and MMA. Now an international superstar himself, Soldic recalls idolizing “Cro Cop” as a young boy growing up in Croatia.

 

“From 2001, when he started competing in MMA, I know every opponent he faced. Everybody in my village wanted to be like ‘Cro Cop.’ I was a huge fan. I am still a fan.”

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Like his idol, the 28-year-old found plenty of success early in his career, racking up 20 victories and an incredible 17 knockouts before signing with ONE last year as the MMA’s hottest free agent.

Roberto Soldic was enthralled to meet Mirko Filipovic who became his guiding friend

That success put Soldic in contact with “Cro Cop” – a moment the surging welterweight knockout artist will never forget, “I met him in 2019 or 2020. When I won some fights and belts, I went to his gym. And I was really excited to meet him. Before my fights, he called me, and after the fights, he called me. So it means a lot to me.”

“Dreams come true! That is what I can say. No words can explain it. ‘Cro Cop’ called me, and this is really unbelievable!” After that initial conversation, Soldic and the retired icon have maintained an important friendship, with “Cro Cop” serving as a role model – both in and out of fighting – for the young Croatian.

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“Robocop” added, “He’s a very disciplined guy, and he is not a trash-talker. The way he fights, he’s always calm, and when he throws, he does really big damage with anything. But his left kick was brutal. So if he catches you with it, it’s all over.”