Dakota Ditcheva Set to Make MMA History in PFL Flyweight Final
Dakota Ditcheva an undefeated 26-year-old from Manchester will face Brazil’s Taila Santos for the Professional Fighter’s League (PFL) flyweight title and a $1m prize in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Surprised to be the favorite, Ditcheva acknowledged Santos’ impressive UFC history, saying, “I know who I’m up against and I’m a bit surprisedVbut people are starting to realize what I’m capable of.”
If Ditcheva wins, she will make history as the first British woman to claim an MMA world title. To date, only five British men have won world titles in MMA including Michael Bisping, Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall. Ditcheva aims to join their ranks.
Ditcheva a former Muay Thai world champion has stood out since transitioning to MMA. She remains undefeated in 12 professional bouts with 12 finishes including a dominant win in last season’s PFL Europe flyweight championship. This year, she has won three consecutive fights via first-round knockout, earning recognition as one of the biggest female stars in the promotion.
However, Santos a former UFC flyweight title challenger will pose Ditcheva’s toughest test. Santos has remained unbeaten since joining PFL and reached the final with a victory over Bellator champion Liz Carmouche making this showdown a highly anticipated battle.
Dakota Ditcheva has the potential to break barriers for British women in MMA. While fighters like Molly McCann and Joanne Wood have influenced the sport, none have fought for a world title. Ditcheva has the chance to elevate British women’s MMA and with her knockout power and growing reputation, she could make history and set the stage for future success.
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