Tag: Dakota Ditcheva

Dakota Ditcheva hopes PFL brings her ‘a bigger challenge’ in 2025

Dakota Ditcheva wants to be tested after destroying the competition en route to the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight title.

[autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] wants to be tested after destroying the competition en route to the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight title.

Ditcheva (14-0) cleaned up in the promotion’s inaugural women’s 125-pound season. She stopped Lisa Mauldin, Chelsea Hackett and Jena Bishop in Round 1 to reach the finals, where she brutalized former UFC title challenger Taila Santos to win the $1 million prize.

There were questions about how good the 29-year-old from England truly was after an undefeated career start against largely unproven competition. She answered many of those questions with the performance against Santos, and Ditcheva said she can feel the sentiment toward her starting to change.

“I knew who I was up against and it was a very exciting matchup for me,” Ditcheva told MMA Junkie Radio. “It was obviously a big moment for me to fight somebody like Santos, and I feel like I went into it with the right mindset, unlike her. I feel like she underestimated me a lot, for sure. She just thought I was a barbie. I don’t think she took me serious at all. It’s a massive win for me.

“I feel like I’ve gained a lot of respect from people now, which is nice. I’m not asking people to be singing and dancing, but people are definitely taking me seriously as a fighter now, which is nice to see.”

With Ditcheva’s stock climbing in a significant way, PFL will have to decide how to best use her in 2025. The promotion has not clarified whether it intends to run another season in her weight class, or whether she could move to its Super Fight PPV series.

Ditcheva said she’s open to all paths forward, so long as it feels like a level up. She doesn’t want to face recycled names in a season format, and hopes PFL can bring something fresh to the table.

“If you put me in another season again, another tournament, that’s going to be where my head goes and I’ll be back on the track of, ‘I’ve got to win this tournament,'” Ditcheva said. “But, I feel like you’ve got to give me something that’s going to mentally push me. I don’t want to be fighting the same people. Realistically I don’t feel like that would be a good thing for them to do. It’s got to be like someone better, a bigger challenge.

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MMA Junkie Radio #3521: UFC 310 recap, Dakota Ditcheva interview, World MMA Awards review, more

Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”

Monday’s episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,521, the fellas recap UFC 310, the promotion’s final pay-per-view of the year. The World MMA Awards also went down in Las Vegas, and the fellas give their thoughts on the show. They also welcome in PFL 2024 women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] for a chat. Tune in!

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Dec. 3: Dakota Ditcheva rockets toward top 5

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following 2024 PFL Championship in Riyadh.

2024 PFL Championship took place this past Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and it produced a massive update in the women’s rankings.

[autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] stopped Taila Santos in the women’s flyweight championship bout in a stellar performance to claim the title and $1 million.

Entering the week at No. 14, Ditcheva’s performance vaulted her to No. 5, replacing Santos.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

Video: Is Dakota Ditcheva world’s top women’s flyweight after dominant 2024 PFL title run?

Dakota Ditcheva’s $1 million PFL title win over Taila Santos was an eye opener, and now we ponder if she’s better than her UFC counterparts.

[autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] achieved a breakthrough moment in more ways than one this past Friday at 2024 PFL Championship.

Ditcheva (14-0) completed a one-sided run through the women’s flyweight season when she defeated former UFC title challenger Taila Santos by second-round TKO to claim the belt and $1 million prize. Additionally, the 26-year-old became the youngest PFL season winner of all time.

The manner in which she dismantled Santos and the previous opponents before her has garnered plenty of attention toward the Brit, and it has some in the MMA community craving matchups with the best UFC women’s flyweights.

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On Monday’s episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel of Mike Bohn, Matthew Wells and Brian “Goze” Garcia joined host “Gorgeous” George Garcia to debate where Ditcheva stacks up among the best in the world, what’s next for her in the PFL and much more.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and check out this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube or in podcast form.

https://www.youtube.com/live/QS2G4RQdRo0

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: The state of PFL, Dakota Ditcheva’s potential, UFC 310 preview, more

On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel discusses the fallout from 2024 PFL Championship, preview UFC 310, and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Mike Bohn, Matthew Wells and Brian “Goze” Garcia will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:

  • The 2024 PFL Championship event took place in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, and the event produced a number of highlight moments. Did the event exceed or fall short of expectations? What’s Brendan Loughnane’s future after coming up short against Timur Khizriev? The panel discusses the results and fallout from the event.
  • [autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] picked up the biggest win of her career in a stellar PFL women’s flyweight championship performance against former UFC title challenger Taila Santos. Was this her star-making moment? Where does she rank among the best female 125-pounders?
  • What is the current overall state of the PFL? Is the promotion underperforming or overperforming after the first year since acquiring the Bellator brand? Is the PFL truly a co-leader in the MMA space? What changes would you like to see in 2025?
  • The final UFC pay-per-view of 2024 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UFC 310 is headlined by a men’s flyweight title fight between champ Alexandre Pantoja and debuting challenger Kai Asakura. What’s the buzz for this card? How does it grade on paper? The panel discusses the matchups and storylines.

Dakota Ditcheva ponders future in PFL tournament or Superfight: ‘Is anyone gonna watch the season without me in it?’

Fresh off her 2024 PFL women’s flyweight championship, Dakota Ditcheva is unsure if she will return to the tournament format in 2025.

[autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] is unsure what lies ahead after winning the PFL women’s flyweight championship.

At 2024 PFL Championship, Ditcheva (14-0) picked former UFC title challenger Taila Santos apart to win the title and a $1 million prize. On paper, Santos (22-4) was the toughest challenge for Ditcheva of her career, but she shined in a fantastic performance that resulted in a second-round stoppage.

“That’s the first person that I feel like I’ve looked up to and watched in the UFC, and now I’ve just fought,” Ditcheva told talkSPORT MMA in a post-fight interview. “For me, it’s a very big moment. I actually feel like – I was sat just talking to myself before the fight, and I was like, this doesn’t even feel like crazy pressure that I’m fighting for $1 million or a world title. It feels like I’m going in there to beat Santos. … It was a really strange mentality that I had, but I feel like that’s maybe what helped me.”

The undefeated Ditcheva has now won two tournaments in the PFL: the 2023 PFL Europe championship and the 2024 PFL championship. She’s confident her skills are a level above the competition in the tournament format, and wonders if it’s time to compete in the PFL’s Superfight series.

“I don’t know, we haven’t spoke about it too much with PFL,” Ditcheva said. “I think it’s difficult because for me, I just beat the top girl that there is out there. So, if you put me back in the tournament, I’m gonna get more stick for fighting the same girls and people that are lower level.

“So, does it make sense to do that with someone that’s like, I feel like I bring in a lot of attention and stuff like that, so I feel maybe a super fight might suit a little bit better, but then, is anyone gonna watch the season without me in it? I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”

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Dakota Ditcheva reflects on TKO win over Taila Santos at 2024 PFL Championship

Dakota Ditcheva reacts to her big title win over Taila Santos at Friday’s 2024 PFL Championship in Saudi Arabia.

[autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] made herself known this year.

After a successful run in the 2024 PFL tournament, Ditcheva took the women’s flyweight title – and the $1 million prize – at Friday’s 2024 PFL Championship in Saudi Arabia, and she did so by impressively stopping former UFC title challenger Taila Santos. This was by far the biggest test for Ditcheva (14-0), yet she was able to get through Santos (22-4) with ease.

“I’ve been telling you,” Ditcheva said in her in-cage post-fight interview. “I’ve been trying to tell you. Maybe (the haters will listen to me), I’m sure they’ll still be moaning about it, but I’ll just keep proving them wrong.”

At 26, Ditcheva feels unstoppable with such a big win under her belt. She didn’t confirm if she’ll now compete under PFL’s Super Fight series or continue in the season format.

“I don’t know, the world is mine,” Ditcheva said. “I’ll sit with PFL and see what we can come up with. I just beat the best girl that’s out there out of any division, so I don’t know, PFL and I will come up with something amazing.”

As far as the performance, Ditcheva expected to finish Santos. She was confident she was going to get the job done despite the discrepancy in experience.

“She’s a tough girl, but I knew what I was capable of,” Ditcheva said. “I’ve worked so hard. My team knew what I was capable of. Right from the beginning of the season, if I would’ve gotten her in the first round, I would’ve done the same thing. They’ve been talking, and she’s been saying, ‘She’s just a Barbie and a model.’ Well, a model just beat your ass in round two, so shut up.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Championship.

Dakota Ditcheva def. Taila Santos at 2024 PFL Championship: Best photos

Check out these photos from Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos at 2024 PFL Championship, a women’s flyweight title bout for $1 million.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag]’s knockout victory over Taila Santos to win $1 million at 2024 PFL Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photos by Jose Peñuela, PFL MMA)

2024 PFL Championship: Dakota Ditcheva stops ex-UFC title challenger Taila Santos to win title, $1 million prize

Dakota Ditcheva put on a striking clinic on Taila Santos to win 2024 PFL women’s flyweight title and the $1 million prize.

[autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] just shut up a lot of critics, while also winning a major championship belt and a million dollars.

That’s right. Ditcheva stopped former UFC title challenger [autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag] in dominant fashion in the co-main event of 2024 PFL Championship, which took place Friday at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The official time of the stoppage was 4:41 of Round 2.

This result got Ditcheva (14-0) the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight title and the $1 million prize for the season.

The fight was mainly a one-way street. Although Santos (22-4) was able to press Ditcheva against the cage in the early portion of the fight, Ditcheva always found a way to get back to her bread and butter, striking, and pick apart Santos at range. In Round 2, Ditcheva’s shots began to add up and rapidly diminish Santos’ energy and durability. A shot to the liver from Ditcheva was the final straw that got Santos to collapse, thus forcing the referee to waive off the action.

Ditcheva maintained her undefeated record with Friday’s showing. The victory over Santos, who has been considered one of the best fighters at woman’s flyweight, is easily the biggest victory of her career. The 26-year-old is quickly establishing herself as one of the best fighters today. Ditcheva is also the 2023 PFL Europe women’s flyweight tournament winner.

On the other hand, this was Santos’ fourth professional defeat and first loss since fighting out her contract with the UFC and joining the PFL. Santos, who left the UFC at the end of 2023 after a decision loss to top contender Erin Blanchfield, had picked up three wins in PFL, including a decision win over former Bellator champion Liz Carmouche.

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Up-to-the-minute 2024 PFL Championship results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Championship.

Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos prediction, pick, start time for 2024 PFL Championship

Dakota Ditcheva has dominated so far in her pro career. Can ex-UFC fighter Taila Santos pull the upset?

[autotag]Dakota Ditcheva[/autotag] and [autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag] meet Saturday for the women’s flyweight $1 million title at the 2024 PFL Championship. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup.

Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos 2024 PFL Championship preview

Dakota Ditcheva def. Jena Bishop – 2024 PFL 7: Nashville Playoffs

It’s largely been a breeze for the 26-year-old Dakota Ditcheva (13-0), who has combat sports in her blood thanks to a kickboxing standout mother. She hasn’t gone do a decision since she signed with the PFL – and has seven of those eight stoppages in the first round. She quieted any potential detractors who may have criticized her level of competition in her PFL Europe run by shutting down Lisa Mauldin, Chelsea Hackett and Jena Bishop on her road to the $1 million final.

Taila Santos def. Jena Bishop at 2024 PFL 4

Taila Santos (22-3) dropped back-to-back fights in the UFC to then-former, but newly current champion Valentina Shevchenko and Erin Blanchfield, then found herself in need of a bounce back. That came in the PFL, where she submitted Ilara Joanne in April, then outworked Bishop and former Bellator champion Liz Carmouche to reach the final.

Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos 2024 PFL Championship odds

2024 PFL Championships faceoff off between Dakota Ditcheva vs Taila Santos during the ceremonial weigh-ins at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (Matt Ferris / PFL)

At -345, Ditcheva is the second biggest favorite of the six $1 million fights.

Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos 2024 PFL Championship expert pick, prediction

Only two of our staff pickers have confidence in a Santos upset – but one of them is the leader in the standings.

Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos 2024 PFL Championship start time, how to watch

As the co-main event, Ditcheva and Santos are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 4:15 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Championship.