Soldic brings his knockouts to UFC welterweight

A quiet Friday in the news cycle handed the UFC a genuine coup: KO artist Roberto Soldic joined the welterweight division as a direct signing. The lightweight and middleweight title pictures both shifted too, with Dana White declining to bless Tsarukyan-Ruffy as an eliminator and Imavov confirming his date with Strickland. Meanwhile UFC Paris and RAF Moscow ran Saturday, with results still to come.

Roberto Soldic signs with the UFC as a welterweight

Former two-division KSW champion Roberto Soldic (21-4, 18 KOs) has signed with the UFC and been added to the official roster as a welterweight, per reports from Pelunaton and The MMA Matchmaker. The 31-year-old Croatian, who split two KSW bouts with Dricus du Plessis and holds a 2018 KO over him, leaves ONE Championship after a stalled three-fight run there. No debut has been announced, though it is rumored for UFC 334 in New York on Nov. 14.

Why it matters: A rare direct-to-roster signing drops a proven finisher into an already stacked 170-pound division, with a possible du Plessis trilogy or a top-15 debut immediately on the table.

Dana White won't call Tsarukyan-Ruffy a title eliminator

Dana White declined to guarantee that the winner of the Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy UFC 331 co-main event (Sept. 19, Los Angeles) gets the next lightweight title shot, despite both fighters saying the UFC promised exactly that. "I hate to say that until the fight is over... Arman says a lot of things. Let's see how this fight plays out," White told Sports Central LA. Tsarukyan, ranked No. 2 at 155, has predicted a Round 3 TKO finish.

Why it matters: It gives matchmakers an out if the bout underwhelms and keeps champ Justin Gaethje's first defense open amid a crowded contender field of Holloway and a recovering Topuria.

Imavov confirms he knows the date for Strickland title shot

Nassourdine Imavov confirmed at a UFC Paris fan Q&A that his next bout is a middleweight title shot against champion Sean Strickland, saying "I know the date for my next fight, and it is for the title." Reports point to UFC 335 on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas. Imavov, riding a five-fight win streak, avenges a 2023 decision loss to Strickland; Khamzat Chimaev, who dropped the belt to Strickland at UFC 328, conceded he'll simply take the winner.

Why it matters: Imavov's own confirmation cements him over Chimaev as next in line at 185 and lines up a grudge rematch to headline the UFC's final numbered card of the year.

Gane opens door to Pereira rematch as Aspinall unification wobbles

Interim heavyweight champ Ciryl Gane says a unification fight with Tom Aspinall is no longer a lock after manager Eddie Hearn flagged that Aspinall needs further eye testing before returning. Gane told RMC Sport he'd accept either Aspinall or a rematch with Alex Pereira, whom he knocked out for the interim belt at UFC White House in June. Ariel Helwani has separately floated a Pereira vs. Josh Hokit bout.

Why it matters: The heavyweight unification keeps slipping as Aspinall's health stalls, leaving Gane in limbo and a rematch of the disputed Pereira finish as a live alternative.

Slimmed-down Chimaev weighs in for RAF Moscow, stoking UFC return talk

Khamzat Chimaev weighed 192.5 pounds for his RAF Moscow wrestling match with Tyron Woodley (193.6) on Saturday — his lightest in a while, down from over 200 for his June RAF debut against Dillon Danis — fueling speculation he's eyeing a UFC return near the middleweight limit. He co-headlines RAF 13 in Miami against Gilbert Burns on Sept. 18. The Moscow card reportedly streams only inside Russia after a venue switch tied to US sanctions concerns.

Why it matters: Chimaev stays active on the mats while lobbying Dana White for an Octagon return, and his trimmed frame hints he's holding at 185 rather than moving to light heavyweight.

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