Adamek — Once crushed by Soldic four years ago — makes a surprising comeback

The combat–sports community was shocked in late 2021 when Roberto Soldic—then the welterweight king of KSW—stepped up in weight and demolished Poland’s beloved former two‑division boxing champion Tomasz Adamek during an experimental mixed‑rules exhibition in Zagreb. The bout ended in round 2 after a vicious left hand shattered Adamek’s nose and left him unconscious, sending the 48‑year‑old legend into an abrupt, four‑year competitive exile.  | Tomasz Adamek: “That punch felt like a truck; I thought my career was over.” 

Today, as promotional posters for FAME 27 line the streets of Gliwice, the narrative has changed. On 6 September 2025, Tomasz Adamek will meet Roberto Soldic once again—this time in a regulated eight‑round boxing main event, 10‑ounce gloves, light‑heavyweight limit. The rematch is more than a payday; it is the centerpiece of a redemption arc no one predicted.

Why the first meeting mattered

Four years ago, Soldic was a 26‑year‑old “Robocop,” fresh off back‑to‑back KSW knockouts, while Adamek was flirting with retirement after 59 professional boxing wars. Accepting an MMA rule‑set—with limited grappling allowed—looked daring on paper but proved catastrophic in practice. Soldic’s southpaw blitz shattered Adamek’s high guard within minutes, and the Bosnian‑Croat’s ground‑and‑pound forced an early stoppage. The viral highlight made international headlines, tarnished Adamek’s aura, and cemented Soldic as a two‑sport destroyer.

The years in between

Roberto Soldic pushed his MMA record to 21‑4, then signed with ONE Championship in 2023. A mixed run of injuries and weight‑class experimentation followed, but a spectacular left‑hand knockout of Dagi Arslanaliev at ONE 171 re‑ignited his star power in February 2025.

Meanwhile, Tomasz Adamek quietly healed, returned to boxing‑only rules, and collected three straight decision wins under the Polish freak‑fight banner FAME, schooling younger social‑media personalities and reminding fans of the fundamentals that once earned him the WBC and IBF belts.

What changed for Adamek?

1. Physical rehabilitation
   Two titanium face plates and a dedicated neck‑strength program helped Adamek absorb impact better during sparring sessions in Jersey City under coach Gus Curren.

2. Style adjustment
   Instead of the high‑volume cruiserweight flurries of his prime, the “Góral” now favours a low‑output, high‑accuracy approach: lateral steps, selective counters, and a renewed jab.

3. Psychological edge
   Sports psychologist Anna Cieslik introduced daily visualization drills.  | Anna Cieslik: “He rewatches the knockout, pauses at the moment of impact, and replaces fear with a counter‑scenario where he slips and fires back.” 

Soldic’s motivation

For Roberto Soldic, boxing is a nostalgic detour—he went 4‑0 in the ring before switching to MMA in 2017—but the matchup also secures a seven‑figure purse from FAME and keeps him active while ONE negotiates a middleweight title eliminator. More importantly, a repeat stoppage over a national icon on Polish soil would elevate his cross‑over value. | Roberto Soldic: “People say I’m a kicker, a grappler—nah, I’m a puncher first. Adamek knows.” 

Tactical breakdown of the rematch

Adamek must control distance with the lead hand, pepper the body early, and spin off the center line after every combo. If he can drag Soldic past round 4, lactic burn will sap the Croat’s snap—as documented in his decision losses in KSW. Soldic, conversely, will stalk with feints, look to trap Adamek near the ropes, and unleash the same shovel‑hook that dislocated Dricus du Plessis’ jaw in 2018.

Stakes for each man

• Legacy
  Adamek seeks to erase the lone viral blemish on a Hall‑of‑Fame résumé; Soldic aims to prove his KO power translates fully to boxing and not only to the smaller MMA gloves.

• Financial upside
  FAME’s PPV projections hover near 400 k domestic buys; both fighters receive percentage points—potentially doubling their career‑high paydays.

• Future matchups
  A win positions Adamek for an exhibition with fellow Polish legend Mariusz Pudzianowski, while Soldic could parlay victory into a ONE Championship title shot or a lucrative crossover with influencer‑boxer Jake Paul, whose team has already teased interest.

Expert opinions

| Jan Błachowicz: “Soldic’s timing is insane, but bigger gloves change everything. If Adamek survives round one, we have a fight.” |

| Michael Bisping: “I still pick Soldic inside three. Age matters, and Adamek can’t outrun Father Time forever.” |

| Artur Szpilka: “Don’t sleep on Góral. He reinvented his game. Those Instagram kids couldn’t touch him—Soldic will need more than raw power.” |

Media buzz and training‑camp footage

Instagram reels from Soldic’s camp at UFD‑Gym show him sparring 200‑pound amateurs, ripping liver‑hooks, and shouting “Robocop mode!” between rounds, revealing top form. Adamek’s camp in Stary Sącz appears more old‑school—road runs at dawn, heavy‑bag rounds with ankle weights, and Polish folk music blaring in the background. The contrast fuels a classic new‑school vs old‑school storyline that Polish media outlet MMArocks calls “ikoną kontra legenda.”

Final Preparations: Grit vs Hype

Training footage reveals a study in contrasts.

At UFD Gym, Soldic is in beast mode: sparring massive partners, hammering liver shots, yelling “Robocop mode!” between rounds. It’s intensity and aggression dialed to 11.

In Stary Sącz, Adamek’s camp is quiet, disciplined. Early roadwork in foggy forests, heavy bag rounds with ankle weights, and Polish folk music blasting through gym speakers. No theatrics—just focus.

Polish media outlets like MMArocks are calling the event “ikoną kontra legenda”—icon vs legend. And truly, this fight is less about youth vs age and more about grit vs hunger, memory vs momentum.

On September 6, the crowd in Gliwice won’t just watch a rematch—they’ll witness the final chapter of a story born in pain, rebuilt with sweat, and now told through leather and willpower. Whether Tomasz Adamek rewrites his ending or Roberto Soldic reaffirms his role as the destroyer of heroes, FAME 27 will echo far beyond the ropes.