After capturing the PFL’s inaugural women’s flyweight title as part of the global roster last week, Dakota Ditcheva isn’t sure about shooting for back-to-back belts in 2025.
Ditcheva continued to prove that her high confidence is more than well placed this past weekend, when she figured in perhaps the most highly anticipated matchup at the 2024 PFL World Championship.
Following a title win as part of the promotional’s regional PFL Europe expansion last year, “Dangerous” got her pursuit of global glory off to a strong start with first-round knockouts of Lisa Mauldin and Chelsea Hackett in the regular season.
And after sending Jena Bishop to the same fate in the semifinal, Ditcheva booked a date with her toughest opponent to date, a former UFC title challenger in Taila Santos whom many believe did enough to deserve a victory over Valentina Shevchenko back in 2022.
The British standout, however, made things look easy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, dismantling the Brazilian en route to a TKO by way of vicious body shots in round two.
Having had plenty doubt her potential based on a perceived lack of legitimate competition, Ditcheva proved her detractors wrong and then some. She’s now being hailed as among the best 125-pound fighters in the world.
Her next step, though, is unclear.
During an interview with Adam Catterall for talkSPORT MMA, Ditcheva assessed what could await her in 2025, sharing the same sentiment as many in the fanbase that another stint in the PFL’s season format may not make sense for her.
Having beaten the woman widely seen as the division’s best in Santos, Ditcheva appears hesitant to shoot for consecutive titles and is instead pondering a push for super fights in 2025.
“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,” Ditcheva continued. “We’ll see what happens.”
Ditcheva’s situation has proven difficult for fighters in the past. Two-time PFL title winner Kayla Harrison was notably left sidelined for much of 2023 after choosing against competing in the promotion’s first women’s featherweight season.
And this year, many Bellator fighters who didn’t cross over to figure in the PFL’s unique format have been left inactive due to event cancellations, with champions Patrício Freire and Patchy Mix among the most notable to express their frustration.
“Dangerous” will be hoping to avoid any such issues next year. Given her rising stardom in the PFL, it stands to reason that the higher-ups will want her back in the SmartCage as soon as possible.
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(@dakotaad_)