Engizek with a one-punch knockout
Katharina Dalisda writes German MMA history
September 17, 2023, 12:36 a.m
Dalisda from Frankfurt has a great opportunity in her hometown to win an MMA title at OKTAGON. She masters the task with flying colors. But other Germans also know how to impress in front of 10,000 spectators.
The German MMA fighter Katharina Dalisda has secured the title of the OKTAGON organization and thus made MMA history. The 31-year-old defeated the Australian Jacinta Austin in the strawweight (up to 52.2 kg) in the evening in front of 10,000 spectators in the sold-out Frankfurt Festhalle. It is the first title for a German fighter in a top international organization.
Dalisda, who is based at the “MMA Spirit” gym in Frankfurt, started the first round in a clinch with her opponent. Both the trained judoka Dalisda and Thai boxer Austin were able to land hits from this position. Both fighters then looked for their sense of distance, Dalisda had a slight advantage here with a few hits through her left straight, and after a hip throw in the final seconds she finished the round strongly.
Round two was characterized by scanning and short punch sequences. Here the Frankfurt player had an advantage, at least in terms of the number of significant hits. Dalisda also ended this round with a takedown. The third round began again in the clinch, where Austin delivered several knee strikes to her opponent’s body. After another takedown from Dalisda, the German went for the submission hold. The guillotine choke took the breath away from the Australian, Austin tapped out, the fight was decided – and Dalisda became the first Strawweight Champion at OKTAGON.
“It’s a great feeling, but I had to earn it first,” said Dalisda after the fight. “Jacinta was very quick with her fists.” The Frankfurt native announced that she only had minor injuries and wanted to defend her belt soon, and was celebrating her 32nd birthday a few hours later.
Further successes for Germany
The evening was also successful for other fighters from Germany. Berlin’s Niko Samsonidze (Spitfire Gym) won his fight against Romania’s Nicolae Hantea by submission (triangle choke) in the first round. Deniz Ilbay (UFD Gym) from Cologne, who like Samsonidze also competed in the featherweight category, defeated Marco Novak in the third round by technical knockout. Kerim Engizek, who also belongs to the UFD Gym in Düsseldorf, celebrated his debut at OKTAGON and immediately made an exclamation mark. Against the Argentinian Matias Juarez, the middleweight fighter only needed 90 seconds and a single punch. Engizek countered Juarez’s attack with a right hook and sent him onto the boards – a dream debut for the 33-year-old.
However, Mo Grabinski (UFD Gym) was less successful in the welterweight division. He lost his fight against Brazilian Apollo Silva by submission (rear-naked choke) in the third round. Christian Jungwirth also lost his fight. The Stuttgart player knocked out the Greek Ioannis Palaiologos in the first round after a submission hold (Kimura).