Roberto Soldic vs. Daniel Rodriguez targeted for UFC Dallas on Jan. 16

Roberto Soldic is reportedly targeted to face Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Dallas on Jan. 16, according to a report that has not been officially confirmed. MMA Fighting reported that the card is expected to be the first UFC event of 2027, and a win would give Soldic a chance to break into the welterweight top 15.

Soldic, a former two-division KSW champion, made his UFC debut last month at UFC 332, where he beat Khaos Williams by unanimous decision on Oct. 3. The 31-year-old Croatian is a southpaw who stands five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach. His striking numbers are efficient: 6.27 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy, and he averages three takedown attempts per 15 minutes.

Rodriguez, 39, is the No. 14-ranked welterweight and carries a 20-6 record. The American southpaw trains out of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and is a volume striker, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. He is coming off a first-round knockout loss to Uros Medic on Aug. 1, a defeat that took 30 seconds. Before that, he won back-to-back fights, a unanimous decision over Kevin Holland at UFC 318 in July 2025 and a third-round TKO of Santiago Ponzinibbio that May.

Why it matters

• Soldic would be fighting a ranked opponent in his second UFC bout, a fast route to the top 15 if the matchup is finalized.
• Rodriguez is looking to bounce back from his most recent recorded fight, a stoppage loss, and protect his place in the rankings.
• The age gap is eight years, with Soldic at 31 and Rodriguez at 39.
• Rodriguez has the edge in height by three inches and in reach by one inch, while Soldic's takedown rate gives him a grappling-heavy path against a fighter who averages 0.51 per 15 minutes.

The bout has not been officially announced, and the matchup could still change before the card is finalized.