Dakota Ditcheva won $1 million by defeating Taila Santos in the PFL finals / PFL Reproduction
Young Dakota Ditcheva continues her rise in MMA. The fighter was awarded a check for US$1 million (approximately R$5,9 million at the current exchange rate) after defeating Brazilian Taila Santos in the PFL finals last Friday (29). The women's flyweight champion (up to 56,7kg), 'Dangerous' remains undefeated in the league.
After her knockout victory, which came in a flurry of strikes initiated by a brutal elbow , Dakota Ditcheva responded to fans who advised her to imitate the move of her teammate, two-time Olympic judo champion Kayla Harrison , by switching from the PFL to the UFC. This is because many already imagine a striker clash between 'Dangerous' and the current flyweight champion of the rival organization, Valentina Shevchenko.
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In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show , hosted by journalist Ariel Helwani, Ditcheva clarified her future in the PFL and responded to calls for her to follow Harrison to the UFC.
“Nobody is going to be happy. The next thing now is ‘Oh, but she’s not going to fight Shevchenko… would she beat her?’ I expected that. I’m stuck in the PFL and I’ll definitely fight for the PFL next year. I have to defend [the title], I don’t plan on giving up that belt yet. I’m only 26 and I have a lot more to give to the PFL and hopefully we can make a super [fight] next year,” she explained.
Besides Ditcheva, Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco are the two biggest female names on the current PFL roster, but she would have to move up to featherweight (up to 65,7kg) to make those fights happen. Cyborg is also nearing retirement after a long and decorated career in the cage.
“I felt like I got stronger throughout the year. But I feel like the only other person is Liz Carmouche… I’m not really interested in going down [in the competition], I need to move up, I want that competition and fighting elite people. I feel like fighting in a big super fight would benefit me more, would people want to see me back in the tournament fighting the same girls again? I’m not sure people would enjoy that,” she added.
Kayla Harrison and the PFL
Since making her UFC debut in April, Harrison has been a frequent target of PFL founder Donn Davis in the media, accusing her of shying away from big-name fights with Cyborg and others.
Before heading to the UFC, Harrison was the star of the PFL, winning two championship belts and racking up an impressive winning streak. A loss to Pacheco at the 2022 PFL Championship broke a 15-fight winning streak.
Ditcheva and Harrison are undoubtedly two of the best female fighters in the world, and the comparisons between them have some merit. Time will tell whether Ditcheva eventually signs with the UFC or remains on board with the PFL’s growing platform.
Kayla Harrison fighting for the PFL. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/@PFLMMA
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