Tag: dakota ditcheva

PFL Finalist Dakota Ditcheva Sees ‘Jealousy’ In How Other Fighters View Her

PFL flyweight finalist Dakota Ditcheva isn’t one bit bothered about what her fighting peers say about her rise, believing it to be nothing but jealousy. Ditcheva established herself as one of the world’s top 125-pound prospects in her first outings under the PFL banner, later securing her spot in the inaugural global flyweight season by […]

PFL flyweight finalist Dakota Ditcheva isn’t one bit bothered about what her fighting peers say about her rise, believing it to be nothing but jealousy.

Ditcheva established herself as one of the world’s top 125-pound prospects in her first outings under the PFL banner, later securing her spot in the inaugural global flyweight season by winning PFL Europe gold in 2023.

And the British standout has kept her ‘0’ intact through three bouts this year to date, stopping Lisa Mauldin, Chelsea Hackett, and Jena Bishop by way of first-round knockouts to carve a violent path to this week’s PFL World Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The promotion has been accused of giving “Dangerous” favorable matchups to ensure qualification into the postseason, even by her fellow fighters. But all debate over her level of competition will be disregarded should she win $1 million with a victory over the highly thought of Taila Santos on Friday.

And regardless of what others in the sport may say, Ditcheva is focused on herself.

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Ditcheva discussed the negative takes some fighters have shared regarding her budding career.

The undefeated striking specialist put their perspectives down to jealousy.

“There is definitely a little bit of jealousy I think and a bit of frustration from a few fighters,” Ditcheva said. “I get it…it’s a business. We have to be able to sell these fights in order to get paid. If you want to get paid, do something. Make your fights exciting or get on social media and make an effort. You have to.

“The people that were mad at these fighters, certain fighters making money, but if you look at the ones making money, it’s the personalities in the sport. Or the fighters that are doing something different,” Ditcheva continued. “I don’t know why anybody is getting frustrated just with me. Because I’m just like, getting what I can out of my years in this sport and I feel like that would be the clever thing to do.”

“Dangerous” will look to dismiss the competition narrative as a legitimate way for others to detract from her accomplishments this weekend, when she squares off with a woman who many believe deserved to get the nod over Valentina Shevchenko in their 2021 UFC title fight.

Their bout will co-headline the PFL World Championship lineup at the King Saud University on Nov. 29, with Ditcheva’s compatriot Brendan Loughnane looking to achieve two-time champ status in the main event.

PFL World Championship Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Loughnane vs. Khizriev, Ditcheva vs. Santos, & More

The 2024 PFL World Championship is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this week’s long lineup. The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM […]

The 2024 PFL World Championship is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this week’s long lineup.

The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA championship card and showcase card starting at 9:30 AM ET/6:30 AM PT and 7:15 AM ET/4:15 AM ET, respectively.

At the lengthy event, plenty of gold will be handed out as the latest global champions and the inaugural MENA kingpins are crowned following the conclusion of this year’s regular seasons.

And the headlining spots have gone to a pair of British standouts, with 2022 featherweight title winner Brendan Loughnane shooting for two-time status in the main event opposite Timur Khizriev. Before that comes a matchup long pointed to as one of the most intriguing in the promotion, as last year’s PFL Europe flyweight queen Dakota Ditcheva meets former UFC title challenger Taila Santos.

Also competing for championships will be the likes of Impa Kasnaganay, Brent Primus, and Denis Goltsov, while notable names like Mansour Bernaoui, Slim Trabelsi, Jesus Pinedo and Costello van Steenis will appear in showcase bouts.

2024 PFL World Championship Betting Odds

Listed below are the latest betting odds for this year’s PFL World Championship (as of 11/27), courtesy of DraftKings.

PFL World Championship Card (3 PM ET, ESPN+):

  • Featherweight Championship: Brendan Loughnane (+260) vs. Timur Khizriev (-325)
  • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva (-380) vs. Taila Santos (+300)
  • Light Heavyweight Championship: Impa Kasanganay (-180) vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (+150)
  • Welterweight: Championship: Magomed Umalatov (+220) vs. Shamil Musaev (-270)
  • Lightweight Championship: Brent Primus (+410) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (-550)
  • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov (+110) vs. Oleg Popov (-130)

PFL MENA Championship Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • MENA Featherweight Championship: Abdelrahman Alhyasat (-115) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (-105)
  • MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (-410) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (+320)
  • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (-290) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (+235)
  • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (-218) vs. Georges Eid (+180)

Showcase Fight Card (7:15 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui (-298) vs. Alfie Davis (+240)
  • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi (-148) vs. Abraham Bably (+124)
  • Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (-290) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (+235)
  • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj (-142) vs. Jose Perez (+120)
  • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis (-625) vs. Joao Dantas (+455)

VIDEO: PFL Finalists Have First Faceoffs In Riyadh Ahead of 2024 Championship

The fighters set to compete for gold at this year’s PFL World Championship stood toe to toe days out from their title showdowns in the Middle East. After completing its main and regional seasons, it’s championship time for the Professional Fighters League. Before the sophomore PFL Europe champions are crowned next month, the global and MENA […]

The fighters set to compete for gold at this year’s PFL World Championship stood toe to toe days out from their title showdowns in the Middle East.

After completing its main and regional seasons, it’s championship time for the Professional Fighters League. Before the sophomore PFL Europe champions are crowned next month, the global and MENA kings — as well as one queen — will be decided.

A long lineup featuring plenty of notable names is set for the 2024 PFL World Championship this Friday, Nov. 29 at the King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Following a series of showcase fights and four MENA finals, six global champions will emerge on the main card, where the headline spots have gone to a pair of UK standouts in 2022 PFL featherweight king Brendan Loughnane and last year’s PFL Europe flyweight champ Dakota Ditcheva, who are slated to collide with Timur Khizriev at featherweight and Taila Santos, respectively.

Ahead of the main and co-main events, those fighters faced off under the observation of former UFC title challenger Dan Hardy this week, as did heavyweights Denis Goltsov and Oleg Popov, light heavyweights Impa Kasanganay and Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov, welterweights Magomed Umalatov and Shamil Musaev, and lightweights Brent Primus and Gadzhi Rabadanov.

Before those matchups play out inside the SmartCage, MENA gold will be wrapped around waists for the very first time, with the likes of Abdullah Al-Qahtani and Ali Taleb looking to end their 2024 campaigns with title glory in Riyadh.

Meanwhile, the showcase bouts that will kick off proceedings at 7:15 AM ET on ESPN+ will include the return of 2023 featherweight title winner Jesus Pinedo, the next fight for top Bellator middleweight contender Costello van Steenis, and an outing for undefeated heavyweight Slim Trabelsi.

For the first time, the PFL championship matchups will see the fighters permitted to throw elbows, which have previously been banned throughout the season and playoff format.

VIDEO: PFL Finalists Have First Faceoffs In Riyadh Ahead of 2024 Championship

The fighters set to compete for gold at this year’s PFL World Championship stood toe to toe days out from their title showdowns in the Middle East. After completing its main and regional seasons, it’s championship time for the Professional Fighters League. Before the sophomore PFL Europe champions are crowned next month, the global and MENA […]

The fighters set to compete for gold at this year’s PFL World Championship stood toe to toe days out from their title showdowns in the Middle East.

After completing its main and regional seasons, it’s championship time for the Professional Fighters League. Before the sophomore PFL Europe champions are crowned next month, the global and MENA kings — as well as one queen — will be decided.

A long lineup featuring plenty of notable names is set for the 2024 PFL World Championship this Friday, Nov. 29 at the King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Following a series of showcase fights and four MENA finals, six global champions will emerge on the main card, where the headline spots have gone to a pair of UK standouts in 2022 PFL featherweight king Brendan Loughnane and last year’s PFL Europe flyweight champ Dakota Ditcheva, who are slated to collide with Timur Khizriev at featherweight and Taila Santos, respectively.

Ahead of the main and co-main events, those fighters faced off under the observation of former UFC title challenger Dan Hardy this week, as did heavyweights Denis Goltsov and Oleg Popov, light heavyweights Impa Kasanganay and Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov, welterweights Magomed Umalatov and Shamil Musaev, and lightweights Brent Primus and Gadzhi Rabadanov.

Before those matchups play out inside the SmartCage, MENA gold will be wrapped around waists for the very first time, with the likes of Abdullah Al-Qahtani and Ali Taleb looking to end their 2024 campaigns with title glory in Riyadh.

Meanwhile, the showcase bouts that will kick off proceedings at 7:15 AM ET on ESPN+ will include the return of 2023 featherweight title winner Jesus Pinedo, the next fight for top Bellator middleweight contender Costello van Steenis, and an outing for undefeated heavyweight Slim Trabelsi.

For the first time, the PFL championship matchups will see the fighters permitted to throw elbows, which have previously been banned throughout the season and playoff format.

VIDEO: PFL Finalists Have First Faceoffs In Riyadh Ahead of 2024 Championship

The fighters set to compete for gold at this year’s PFL World Championship stood toe to toe days out from their title showdowns in the Middle East. After completing its main and regional seasons, it’s championship time for the Professional Fighters League. Before the sophomore PFL Europe champions are crowned next month, the global and MENA […]

The fighters set to compete for gold at this year’s PFL World Championship stood toe to toe days out from their title showdowns in the Middle East.

After completing its main and regional seasons, it’s championship time for the Professional Fighters League. Before the sophomore PFL Europe champions are crowned next month, the global and MENA kings — as well as one queen — will be decided.

A long lineup featuring plenty of notable names is set for the 2024 PFL World Championship this Friday, Nov. 29 at the King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Following a series of showcase fights and four MENA finals, six global champions will emerge on the main card, where the headline spots have gone to a pair of UK standouts in 2022 PFL featherweight king Brendan Loughnane and last year’s PFL Europe flyweight champ Dakota Ditcheva, who are slated to collide with Timur Khizriev at featherweight and Taila Santos, respectively.

Ahead of the main and co-main events, those fighters faced off under the observation of former UFC title challenger Dan Hardy this week, as did heavyweights Denis Goltsov and Oleg Popov, light heavyweights Impa Kasanganay and Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov, welterweights Magomed Umalatov and Shamil Musaev, and lightweights Brent Primus and Gadzhi Rabadanov.

Before those matchups play out inside the SmartCage, MENA gold will be wrapped around waists for the very first time, with the likes of Abdullah Al-Qahtani and Ali Taleb looking to end their 2024 campaigns with title glory in Riyadh.

Meanwhile, the showcase bouts that will kick off proceedings at 7:15 AM ET on ESPN+ will include the return of 2023 featherweight title winner Jesus Pinedo, the next fight for top Bellator middleweight contender Costello van Steenis, and an outing for undefeated heavyweight Slim Trabelsi.

For the first time, the PFL championship matchups will see the fighters permitted to throw elbows, which have previously been banned throughout the season and playoff format.

Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos – Odds and Match Preview

Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos PFL 2024The upcoming PFL MMA fight between Dakota Ditcheva and Taila Santos is shaping up to be an exciting matchup…

Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos PFL 2024

The upcoming PFL MMA fight between Dakota Ditcheva and Taila Santos is shaping up to be an exciting matchup between two highly skilled fighters with contrasting backgrounds and styles. This match goes down on November 29 and is a tournament final with one million dollars on the line.

Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos

In this matchup, Dakota Ditcheva is considered the favorite to win, while Taila Santos is the underdog. This likely has to do with how impressive Ditcheva has looked in her last several bouts winning nearly all of them by way of KO/TKO. If you like to play the odds then you can play the odds and games while betting with real money right here.

Additionally, MMA fighter and Olympic Judoka Kayla Harrison did not hesitate to pick ‘Dangerous’ Dakota Ditcheva over Talia Santos. In an interview with MMA Junkie, Harrison explained, “She’s just so f*cking good … I think she’s going to knock her out, second round … She is the real deal. She’s the full package, and I’m super excited for her. I think this is about to be a big coming-out party when she makes it look easy.”

‘Dangerous’ Dakota Ditcheva is an undefeated prodigy of MMA who has power in her kicks and punches having won an impressive 11 of her professional bouts by way of KO/TKO. She comes from a strong Muay Thai and Kickboxing background, taught by her mother Lisa Howarth since she was a child. Howarth held striking titles in Kickboxing, Karate, and Muay Thai.

Dakota Ditcheva Bishop PFL

The UK-born Dakota Ditcheva was a three-time Junior Amateur World Champion in Muay Thai before transitioning to MMA full-time in 2019. She has been making waves in the PFL, winning the inaugural PFL Europe Women’s Flyweight tournament in 2023 and continuing her success in the global PFL scene in 2024. She has now reached the finals, having won all of her matches by first-round KO, and is set to face Talia Santos.

Brazil’s Taila Santos brings a wealth of experience to the cage. With a 22-3 record, Santos is a former UFC title challenger who gave Valentina Shevchenko a tough fight for the UFC Flyweight Championship in 2022. Santos has a well-rounded skill set, with victories coming by knockout, submission, and decision. Since joining the PFL after her UFC stint, Santos has maintained her momentum with three consecutive wins.

Stylistically, ‘Dangerous‘ Ditcheva is expected to rely heavily on her Muay Thai background, using her powerful kicks, knees, and punches to control the fight on the feet. Santos is competent in striking, but will likely look to mix things up by taking the fight to the ground or controlling in the clinch against the cage, where she has shown great proficiency against fighters such as Valentina Shevchenko.

The championship fight is generating buzz in the MMA community. Santos’ experience and previous performance against top-tier competition make her a formidable opponent. This matchup will test Ditcheva and be an important moment in her career. It all goes down at PFL 10 2024 hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 29.