By:  | May 8, 2023 10:19 am

Zebaztian Kadestam has to endure a torrid opening round against Roberto Soldic at ONE Fight Night 10 last weekend. The Swedish striking specialist was on the receiving end of numerous left hands and looked to be second best.

But Kadestam turned things around in the most dramatic style. He knocked the highly rated Croatian out with a perfectly timed right elbow at the start of the second round.

The rewards for Kadestam included a $50,000 USD bonus. He also earned a shot at the interim welterweight title with the news confirmed on the official ONE Championship website.

Hype train

Kadestam is a veteran of 11 ONE Championship fights and the former welterweight champion. But this was by far the most impressive performance and victory of the 32 year old’s career.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Soldic who held the KSW welterweight and middleweight titles. His ONE Championship debut did not go according to plan with the Croatian unable to continue after receiving a low blow.

But ONE Fight Night 10 was Soldic’s opportunity to introduce himself to a global audience and he got off to a very good start. Kadestam was on the receiving end of numerous left hands in the opening round as well as some solid low kicks.

Both men were clearly motivated and ready at the start of the fight but Kadestam struggled to land anything of note in the first five minutes.

Perfect timing

But the Swedish fighter spent years training and competing in Thailand and clearly learned a trick or two. When Soldic looked to land a left hand to the body early in the second round he timed it to perfection, countering with a right elbow that dropped the Croatian.

A few follow up shots later and the fight was over. Kadestam could barely walk at the end which suggests he would have struggled to complete the fight had he not found the knock out blow.

The only question for Kadestam is who the promotion will find to face him next. Christian Lee is sidelined indefinitely after the tragic death of his sister so an interim belt is being introduced.

Murad Ramazanov looks the only obvious candidate. The Russian is undefeated and has three ONE Championship wins but is coming off an anticlimactic ‘no contest’ in his fight with Soldic.

He has already beaten Kadestam once, scoring a decision win over the Swedish fighter in 2021. A rematch for the interim title looks like it could be a possibility.

It might take Kadestam a while to recover after a punishing fight with Soldic in Broomfield. But when he does the 32 year old can look forward to an interim welterweight title shot.