Off the back of becoming PFL women’s flyweight champion in November, Dakota Ditcheva now wants to determine what is next for her in the PFL.
Donn Davis and the PFL hierachy struck gold when they signed Ditcheva back in 2022. In just two years, she has won both their European and global tournaments, finishing every woman along the way and solidifying herself as one of the best female fighters on the planet.
Two months on from becoming the promotions youngest ever champion, she is looking to clarify what her pathway looks like throughout 2025 and beyond.
The 26-year-old spoke to Adam Catterall of TalkSPORT while in Dubai for the promotion’s first card of the year.
She said: “I want to stay busy this year, so I kind of need to know now: ‘Are you going to keep me busy? If you’re not putting me in the tournament, are you going to be able to give me the fights on the big cards?’.
“They’ve got a few announcements for what’s coming up and where they’re going. There could be the possibility of being on some big cards in places I’ve haven’t been before.
“I’m excited to sit down with them. But I definitely want it sorted by the end of this week, if not, next week.”
MMA fans have been desperate to see her join the UFC after seeing how she handled Taila Santos.
The Brit emphasised that her future lies with the PFL for now. But, she did not rule out the possibility of exploring other options.
She continued: “If they can’t come up with something, then it probably is going to happen (explore other options) and I will have to find somewhere else.
“But, we have to remember, I was the first flyweight when I signed to PFL and within two years they’ve got a full division.
“I owe it to them now to be able to come up with something for the next two years. If not, then we’ll have to think of something else.”
Could Dakota Ditcheva Enter the 2025 Tournament?
Both 2023 and 2024 saw Ditcheva compete in a tournament format, with the global tournament pocketing her a $1 million cheque.
However, PFL recently altered the structure of their business model by introducing the division format and placing tournaments on the back burner – even decreasing the prize money to $500k.
The Manc claimed she would not turn down the opportunity of another tournament, but it is not her priority.
She said: “I wouldn’t say no to a tournament for sure, because I really enjoyed the last two years. But, does it make sense for me to do it, with the same girls, same competition? I don’t know.
“That’s had a lot of people talking, the fact that it’s only $500k now. But, that aside, competition is important to me.
“If you’re gonna put me with the same girls and have the same girls in the tournament [then] I’m not really that interested.
“I think they would be silly to do that because they won’t get the most out of me.
‘I think people, with me beating Taila Santos, want to see what else I’m capable of. So, it’s got to be something more.”
What would you like to see Dakota Ditcheva do next? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
