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.
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