Dakota Ditcheva Questions Quality of Competition in 2025 PFL Tournament: ‘I Just Beat the Top Girl’

Dakota Ditcheva Questions Quality of Competition in Future PFL Tournaments: 'I Just Beat the Top Girl'After smashing her way through Taila Santos at the PFL World Championship in Riyadh, Dakota Ditcheva can’t help but…

Dakota Ditcheva Questions Quality of Competition in Future PFL Tournaments: 'I Just Beat the Top Girl'

After smashing her way through Taila Santos at the PFL World Championship in Riyadh, Dakota Ditcheva can’t help but wonder what’s left for her to accomplish in 2025.

‘Dangerous’ ran the table during this year’s inaugural PFL women’s flyweight tournament, earning four straight finishes, including a second-round TKO against former UFC title challenger Taila Santos at the promotion’s final event of the year in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking with talkSPORT following her million-dollar victory, Ditcheva expressed some concern over potentially competing in next year’s tournament considering she’s already dispatched her toughest test.

“I don’t know, we haven’t spoken about it too much with PFL,” Ditcheva said when asked about her future. “I think it’s difficult because for me, I just beat the top girl that 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 going to watch the season without me in it? I don’t know. We’ll see what happens” (h/t MMA Mania).

Dakota Ditcheva could face the same struggle that Kayla Harrison did in the PFL

If the story sounds familiar, that’s probably because two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison faced a similar struggle during her time with the organization. Harrison ran roughshod over much of the competition, leading many to criticize her for kicking around a bunch of cans rather than taking on the toughest fighters available.

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Hopefully, they will refrain from subjecting Ditcheva to a similar fate by signing some fresh talent to the flyweight pool ahead of next year’s tournament because, as it stands, there’s not much for Ditcheva or her fans to be excited about in 2025.

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Top 5: Best Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts in MMA – PFL Striker Packs Dangerous Power

Dakota Ditcheva KnockoutsWe are going to countdown the best Dakota Ditcheva knockouts in MMA history but it will not be easy…

Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts

We are going to countdown the best Dakota Ditcheva knockouts in MMA history but it will not be easy choosing just five as the Bulgarian-English fighter has a KO win rate of 85%. ‘Dangerous’ Dakota Ditcheva just won $1,000,000 in the PFL 2024 season having won all of her matches by way of knockout crowing herself a champion and a new MMA star.

Top 5 Best Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts

The unbeaten ‘Dangerous’ Dakota Ditcheva grew up learning striking from her mother Lisa Howarth who was a title holder in Muay Thai, Karate, and Kickboxing. Ditcheva won amateur titles in Muay Thai and Kickboxing, then transitioned to MMA and has won European and world titles in the PFL. She mainly trains stateside at American Top Team but still credits all of her success to her mom. Let’s take a closer look at the career best Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts.

5. Dakota Ditcheva vs. Katherine Corogenes

The Bulgarian-English athlete dominated Katherine Corogenes on the ground and then delivered a right cross which put her opponent out cold in an iconic knockout.

4. Dakota Ditcheva vs. Jena Bishop

Showing off her full striking arsenal, Ditcheva attacked Jena Bishop with knees in the clinch, teep kicks, and head punches to put her down as one of the best Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts.

3. Dakota Ditcheva vs. Valentina Scatizzi

To capture the European PFL title, Dakota Ditcheva knocked out Italy’s Valentina Scatizzi with a series of knees in the clinch. This performance had her compared to Anderson Silva.

2. Dakota Ditcheva vs. Cornelia Holm

Ditcheva was pushed for the first time in her PFL career against Cornelia Holm. ‘Dangerous’ had blasted all of her opponents out of there in the first round, but with clinches and takedowns, Holm made it to round three before getting knocked out with a low-high punching combination to set the Paris crown alight.

1. Dakota Ditcheva vs. Talia Santos

Talia Santos was set to be the biggest challenge of Ditcheva’s career. This was the PFL world championship finals and Brazil’s Santos had walked through the competition thus far and was a former top-ranked UFC contender. This is one of the Best Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts as she made it look easy. She dominated Santos with a barrage of punches and kicks crowning herself the PFL champion and one of the best in the world.

    ‘Best WMMA Fighter In The World’ – Fans React As Dakota Ditcheva Batters Taila Santos To Win Inaugural PFL Flyweight Title

    Dakota Ditcheva passed the toughest test of her career to date with flying colors to become the 2024 PFL flyweight champion, stopping Taila Santos in the second round. Many expected the former UFC title challenger to be a threat to the undefeated star in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but the fight was one-way traffic from start […]

    Dakota Ditcheva passed the toughest test of her career to date with flying colors to become the 2024 PFL flyweight champion, stopping Taila Santos in the second round.

    Many expected the former UFC title challenger to be a threat to the undefeated star in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but the fight was one-way traffic from start to finish.

    It was clear right from the get-go that there was no comparison between them on the feet, with Ditcheva’s excellent striking causing damage to multiple targets and making her opponent bite on all of her feints.

    The biggest takeaway in this fight was that when Santos was able to close the distance in order to test the Brit’s grappling, “Dangerous” was able to defend takedowns, keep herself safe, and get back to striking. She even took the Brazilian veteran down at one point before standing back up.

    Santos looked to be hanging on at the end of the first round, and in the second, the champion picked up where she left off. After the damage started to add up, she put the stamp on her most impressive display to date by becoming the first woman to finish Santos.

    Ditcheva didn’t just become the champion and win $1 million in this fight, she proved herself to be a legitimate world class competitor at flyweight. PFL strapped the rocket to the 25-year old, and it has more than paid off.

    Fight fans reacted to her undeniable performance via social media:

    Dakota Ditcheva Brutalizes Taila Santos, Scores Body Shot KO in Round 2 – PFL World Championship Highlights

    Dakota Ditcheva Brutalizes Taila Santos, Scores Body Shot KO in Round 2 - PFL World Championship HighlightsDakota Ditcheva become the first woman to finish former UFC title challenger Taila Santos, becoming the first-ever PFL women’s…

    Dakota Ditcheva Brutalizes Taila Santos, Scores Body Shot KO in Round 2 - PFL World Championship Highlights

    Dakota Ditcheva become the first woman to finish former UFC title challenger Taila Santos, becoming the first-ever PFL women’s flyweight tournament winner at Friday’s PFL World Championship event in Riyadh.

    Ditcheva got things started with some stinging leg kicks, prompting Santos to shoot in for a takedown. Despite her best efforts to muscle Ditcheva down to the mat, she was unable to do so. Santos found some success with her second takedown attempt, but Ditcheva popped right back up, broke the grip, and separated with relative ease.

    From there, it was all Ditcheva on the feet, peppering Santos with a variety of strikes, including a few sneaky knees and a slick front kick to the face.

    In the waning seconds of the second round, Ditcheva poured it on and caught Santos against the fence with a vicious body shot. Santos folded over from the blow, allowing Ditcheva to land a couple more before the referee stepped in and brought a stop to the action with only seconds left.

    Official Result: Dakota Ditcheva def. Taila Santos via TKO (body shots) at 4:41 of Round 2.

    Check Out Highlights From Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos at the PFL World Championship:

    Dakota Ditcheva’s Rise to Stardom Has Sparked ‘A Little Bit of Jealousy’ Among PFL Fighters

    Dakota Ditcheva's Rise to Stardom Has Sparked 'A Little Bit of Jealousy' Among PFL FightersManchester native Dakota Ditcheva is quickly becoming one of MMA’s biggest stars. After taking the world by storm under…

    Dakota Ditcheva's Rise to Stardom Has Sparked 'A Little Bit of Jealousy' Among PFL Fighters

    Manchester native Dakota Ditcheva is quickly becoming one of MMA’s biggest stars.

    After taking the world by storm under the PFL Europe banner in 2023, ‘Dangerous’ has seen her star rise as part of the inaugural PFL flyweight women’s tournament, earning a trio of first-round knockouts against Lisa Mauldin, Chelsea Hackett, and Jena Bishop. Those wins have led her to the PFL Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where she’ll face Taila Santos in the $1 million final on November 29.

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    As is the case with any fighter on the fast track to fame and fortune, Ditcheva has seen her fair share of detractors come out of the woodwork — many of them accusing the PFL of feeding her favorable matchups to ensure her entry into the flyweight finale at The Mayadeen.

    Dakota Ditcheva encourages fighters to stop making excuses and start getting noticed

    Speaking with MMA Fighting ahead of her return to the Smart Cage, Ditcheva chalked up the negativity to a few jealous fighters who haven’t put in the same work she has to get noticed.

    “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” (h/t MMA News).

    Overall, Ditcheva is a perfect 13-0 with 11 of her wins coming by way of knockout and one submission.

    Including her work in PFL Europe, ‘Dangerous’ has a 100% finish rate inside the Smart Cage — a stat she’ll look to keep intact against another well-known finisher in the world of women’s MMA.

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    2024 PFL World Championship Results & Highlights: Khizriev Dominates Loughnane, Ditcheva Stops Santos

    The 2024 PFL World Championship took place on Friday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action! This week saw the Professional Fighters League back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to crown its title winners for this year — both PFL Global and PFL MENA — following the conclusion of the regular season and […]

    The 2024 PFL World Championship took place on Friday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

    This week saw the Professional Fighters League back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to crown its title winners for this year — both PFL Global and PFL MENA — following the conclusion of the regular season and semifinals.

    After a set of showcase bouts featuring the likes of Costello van Steenis, Slim Trabelsi, and Mansour Barnaoui, four inaugural kings were crowned as part of the promotion’s Middle East and North Africa expansion.

    The main card followed, with six fighters on the global roster walking away with championship gold and $1 million in prize money.

    Brendan Loughnane and Impa Kasanganay both failed in their bid to experience that for the second time, with the featherweight suffering a lopsided five-round loss to Timur Khizriev in the main event and the light heavyweight standout falling victim to Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov’s power in under a minute.

    Perhaps the most intriguing clash on the lineup came in the co-headliner, meanwhile, as the undefeated Dakota Ditcheva faced the toughest test of her blossoming career thus far. She ultimately followed her PFL Europe success last year with global glory, getting the better of former UFC title challenger Taila Santos in shockingly dominant fashion.

    With that said, see below for the full results, followed by all the best highlights.

    2024 PFL World Championship Results

    PFL World Championship Card:

    • Featherweight Championship: Timur Khizriev def. Brendan Loughnane via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
    • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva def. Taila Santos via TKO (body punches): R2, 4:41
    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov def. Impa Kasanganay via TKO (punches): R1, 0:58
    • Welterweight Championship: Shamil Musaev def. Magomed Umalatov via TKO (punches): R3, 1:44
    • Lightweight Championship: Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Brent Primus via KO (punches): R3, 2:31
    • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov def. Oleg Popov via submission (triangle choke): R1, 2:51

    PFL MENA Championship Card:

    • MENA Featherweight Championship: Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. Maraoune Bellagouit via TKO: R1
    • MENA Welterweight Championship: Omar El Dafrawy def. Mohammad Alaqraa via KO (hammerfists): R2, 0:57
    • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif def. Lilia Osmani via TKO (knees): R2, 1:37
    • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb def. Rachid El Hazoume via KO (punches): R1, 1:25
    • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi def. Georges Eid via unanimous decision

    Showcase Fight Card:

    • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui def. Alfie Davis via submission (rear-naked choke): R3, 3:41
    • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi def. Abraham Bably via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Featherweight: Gabriel Braga def. Jeremy Kennedy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj def. Jose Perez via submission (guillotine choke): R3, 1:10
    • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis def. Joao Dantas via KO (head kick): R1, 0:48

    Costello van Steenis Def. Joao Dantas

    Asael Adjoudj Def. Jose Perez

    Gabriel Braga Def. Jeremy Kennedy

    Slim Trabelsi Def. Abraham Bably

    Mansour Barnaoui Def. Alfie Davis

    Mohsen Mohammadseifi Def. Georges Eid

    Ali Taleb Def. Rachid El Hazoume

    Hattan Alsaif Def. Lilia Osmani

    Omar El Dafrawy Def. Mohammad Alaqraa

    Abdullah Al-Qahtani Def. Maraoune Bellagouit

    Denis Goltsov Def. Oleg Popov

    Gadzhi Rabadanov Def. Brent Primus

    Shamil Musaev Def. Magomed Umalatov

    Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov Def. Impa Kasanganay

    Dakota Ditcheva Def. Taila Santos

    Timur Khizriev Def. Brendan Loughnane