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Alina Dalaslan will test skills with Karolina Sobek at Oktagon 83: Samsonidse vs. Machaev on January 31st in a bantamweight bout. When discussing her thoughts on Sobek as an opponent and the idea that this would seem like that next leveling up in her career progression, Dalaslan said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yes, it’s my first grappler as an opponent. So it’s my fifth pro fight. The other four opponents were more striker like me. So this is, yeah the new era for me to fight against a very experienced grappler. She was also in good league like Bellator and PFL. So, she’s very experienced. She’s coming from one weight class down, so she’s a little bit bigger than me. So yeah, I’m very excited for this fight, but I know that I will do it.”
The metrics for both fighters paint a certain picture with Dalaslan having multiple knockouts and her opponent Sobek having multiple submissions. When touching on the interesting stylistic matchup she is facing here and the more pronounced grappling presence in this contest as she levels up in her career, Dalaslan stated [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yes. So my fight camp was yeah, more like the others. But I really focused on the grappling game, the wrestling game. So it was also good for me as a person, as an athlete to yeah, get more experience to level up my grappling. So I feel very good now, yeah, on the floor. So I like the striking more. I think everyone knows it and the statistics don’t lie with the KO/ TKO. But yeah, if the fight goes to the grappling, I will be prepared. Well prepared.”
When touching on the preparations and specifically asked if she has anyone at Planet Eater that she is getting in work with to mirror Sobek ahead of this fight, Dalaslan quipped [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yes, of course. I have a lot of training partners who can imitate her because they don’t have to imitate her. Because they have a really similar fighting game just like her. Because Planet Eater is well known for the grappling game. So yeah, we have another striker too. But in the Planet Eater we have a lot of good grapplers and the head coach Peter Sobotta is a black belt grappler. So I have a lot of training partners who can do it like her and yes, I can feel it.”
Alina Dalaslan feels “stronger than ever” after amending issues from Oktagon 78 bout
When asked about the big takeaways from her last fight versus Katharina Lehner that saw her defeat a tenured opponent at Oktagon 78, Dalaslan said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yes, this was my first victory that goes, yeah, where decision and not no TKO/ KO. So it was a very good experience to fight, yeah, during the whole fighting time. So I know I have the condition for even a few more rounds. Against one girl just like her. She lived now in America since I don’t know three, four, or five years, a long time. She has really good training partners, really high level training partners, a lot of UFC fighters, and I could get the win against her.”
“So, yeah, I can just; yeah, get to know where’s my level and I can compete against the international fighters. Yes, what I get from this fight, I wasn’t so happy with the ending. Just not because it was a decision. It was because my fight camp wasn’t really good and I know that I can show a lot more techniques. I know that I could have get the finish. But just in this moment in the fight, I didn’t felt so comfortable.”
“Yeah because the weeks before weren’t so good for me and this is what I can take from the fight that I do it the next time. Yeah, just not like this and just not let my feelings like overcome me. I don’t know if you understand what I mean. But yes, and now I’m really happy that I could get the win and when I watch the fight, I’m really proud of me.”
In terms of addressing if everything is all smooth sailing in the specific context of if she has learned from the mistakes she faced in her prior Oktagon MMA foray, Dalaslan stated [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yes. Now, this fight camp was really good. I think one of the best. I feel stronger than ever. I feel very good, prepared, and I’m just happy to fight, you know.”
