Expect the Expected from Dakota Ditcheva

Since winning the PFL Europe championship in 2023, Dakota Ditcheva has continued her meteoric rise as part of the Professional Fighters League’s latest global season. She has rattled off four consecutive first-round finishes, cementing herself as one of the best up-and-coming female fighters in the sport. Ditcheva, 26, lacks only a world championship.

The burgeoning American Top Team star will meet Taila Santos when their PFL women’s flyweight final serves as the co-headliner for the PFL 2024 Season Championships on Friday at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It represents not only Ditcheva’s chance to take down an experienced and well-respected veteran but her opportunity to snag a PFL world title and a million-dollar payday.

Throughout her journey, Ditcheva has heard plenty from the social media armchair coaches who believe she needs to face tougher competition. Having dominated everyone who was put in front of her, Ditcheva embraces the opportunity to silence all doubters in her fight against a former Ultimate Fighting Championship title challenger in Santos. Those around Ditcheva have reminded her to pause for self-reflection to take in the entire experience.

“I’m very much a person that’s kind of straight to the next goal,” she told Sherdog.com. “I’m that person. I’m not one who will carry a belt around forever, so I definitely do have to slow myself down a bit. It’s funny because my mom, my brothers and my dad will have to tell me to slow down. It’s really hard. The sport moves fast, but you can’t wait around and admire your work forever. It’s hard for me to find that balance of being proud of myself, soaking it in and moving on to the next thing.”

Ditcheva clinched her spot in the final in August, when she cut down Jena Bishop with a front kick to the body and a follow-up right cross. Not one to pay mind to her critics, she believes they should watch in silence while true fans sit back and enjoy the show.

“That’s honestly what I think, but I also understand the sport and the fans,” Ditcheva said. “Without all of that, I wouldn’t be able to make the money that I’m making and achieve my goals. Everything comes as a package, and you have to accept that as a fighter, so for me, my little one minute on the mic satisfies everything else. I can take all the s--- beforehand, and I can take people talking about me. It must all come out when I’m on the mic.”

Ditcheva has one challenge left in her quest for PFL gold. Santos made her way to the 125-pound tournament championship with wins over Ilara Joanne, the aforementioned Bishop and current Bellator MMA titleholder Liz Carmouche. Ditcheva anticipates no surprises.

“Expect what you’ve seen all year because that’s what I’m going to do,” she said. “It’s going to be an amazing fight. She’s a fighter I used to watch in the UFC. I know exactly who I’m getting in with. I’m not underestimating her at all. I have full respect for her, but at the same time, I don’t think I can stop myself when I get in the cage. Just expect what you’ve been seeing.”

Should those expectations come to fruition, Ditcheva—with gold strapped to her waist—would consider the mission accomplished.

“It would mean everything, to be honest,” she said. “That belt is the most important thing for me. I think for myself, my own confidence and my own mind, when I win this world title and beat Santos for it, it’s going to be massive for me. I think it’ll give me a lot of confidence. I’ll kind of be like ‘Who’s next?’ as I always am. This is a big milestone in my career.”