PFL women’s flyweight European champion, Dakota Ditcheva, believes that she could take over the UFC’s women’s flyweight division if she signed with the promotion.
Dakota Ditcheva won the PFL European Championship this past December, winning the $100,000 tournament bonus as well as earning a spot on the global season.
The undefeated prospect won her first regular season bout of 2024, finishing Lisa Mauldin in the first round of women’s flyweight bouts. With the dominant win, ‘Dangerous’ Dakota jumped to the top of the league with a ‘quick six’.
On June 13th, the 25-year-old makes her second regular season appearance as she takes on Chelsea Hackett in the co-main event of PFL 4.
Dakota Ditcheva confident she could win the UFC flyweight title
Although she isn’t signed with the UFC, the Mancunian believes that if she signed with the promotion, she could become the champion by beating either Valentina Shevchenko or current champion, Alexa Grasso.
UFC flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso, is set to defend her title against Valentina Shevchenko in what will be the first women’s title fight trilogy in UFC history. Although a date hasn’t been set for the decider, it is rumored that it will take place at UFC 306.
“I could have the title if I went there. Yeah, I think I could (beat Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso). I definitely think I’d be up there.” Ditcheva said on The MMA Hour.
“I think we’ll see that when I win this season now and say I beat someone like Liz Carmouche and Taila Santos, as soon as I’ve beat them I think what else can people expect other than greatness.” Ditcheva added.
Bellator women’s flyweight champion, Liz Carmouche also joined the PFL global season at the beginning of the year and picked up a unanimous decision win over Julianna Velasquez in her first outing.
PFL women’s flyweight league update heading into round two
With the second round of women’s flyweight fights scheduled to take place on June 13th from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, ‘Girl-Rilla’ will need a quick finish if she is hoping to make it to the tournament bracket.
The 40-year-old currently occupies fourth place in the division and after picking up a decision win, she only sits with three points.
Former UFC flyweight title challenger, Taila Santos, won in her promotional debut, submitting Ilara Joanne in the first round. With that, she sits in second place with six points.
Although Ditcheva and Santos both have six points, Ditcheva is currently in seed one because her finish over Mauldin came quicker than Santos’ over Ilara Joanne.
The Brazilian, Santos, takes on the undefeated Jenna Bishop in her second outing of the season, with Bishop currently occupying third place also with six points, after a first-round submission over Chelsea Hackett.
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