Dakota Ditcheva Expresses Surprise at Favourite Status Ahead of Historic Title Bid

Live text commentary for the PFL Finals, featuring Dakota Ditcheva versus Talia Santos and Brendan Loughnane against Timur Khizriev, will be accessible from 21:00 GMT on the BBC Sport website and app. Dakota Ditcheva has stated her surprise at being designated the favourite as she aims to become the inaugural British woman to secure a mixed martial arts world title. Ditcheva, from Manchester, is scheduled to compete against Taila Santos of Brazil for the Professional Fighter’s League (PFL) flyweight championship and a $1m (£789,000) prize. The event will be held on Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The undefeated 26-year-old Ditcheva is widely anticipated to prevail against Santos, a former UFC flyweight title challenger, potentially concluding Britain’s pursuit of its first female world champion. Ditcheva stated, “I know who I’m up against, I used to watch her in a different promotion and I’m impressed by her. I’m a bit surprised but I think people are realising what I’m capable of now.” To date, British MMA has seen only five world champions, all of whom have been men. Michael Bisping (middleweight), Leon Edwards (welterweight), and Tom Aspinall (interim-heavyweight) have earned UFC titles, while Liam McGeary (light-heavyweight) is a former Bellator champion. Separately, Brendan Loughnane, who will contend with Russia’s Timur Khizriev in the featherweight main event, has the prospect of becoming Britain’s first two-time MMA world champion, following his PFL title win in 2022. Ditcheva previously informed the PFL, “It’s going to be a massive moment. I’m gonna be PFL world champion and it will be an amazing milestone for me.” She further added, “And this is just the start, that’s why I say milestone. It’s just the start of an amazing journey for me.” Ditcheva has defeated the majority of her opponents using her striking techniques. Since transitioning to MMA, Ditcheva, a former Muay Thai world champion, has achieved a remarkable start to her career. She maintains an undefeated record, having won 12 professional fights by stoppage, and secured the PFL Europe flyweight championship last season. Her journey to the final against Santos has included three victories this year, each achieved via first-round knockout. Ditcheva’s performances have contributed to her becoming arguably the most significant female star in the promotion. Ditcheva commented, “I definitely do have the spotlight on me. I feel like it’s everything my performances deserve but at the same time I do feel a little guilty.” She added, “I do get a bit of hate for the attention I get. But my highlights are interesting to watch, my striking is what excites people, so I feel my hard work is building that attention.” However, Ditcheva is anticipated to encounter the most formidable challenge of her career in former UFC flyweight title challenger Santos. The 31-year-old Santos has remained undefeated since joining the PFL, securing three victories, including a win over Bellator flyweight champion Liz Carmouche in August to reach the final. The event aligns with Saudi Arabia’s multi-billion pound investment in sport; however, the country continues to draw criticism for using such initiatives to divert attention from its human rights record, a practice termed ‘sportswashing’. British MMA has experienced a period of considerable success over the past two years, with Edwards, Aspinall, and Loughnane all securing titles. The influence these champions have had on the sport’s growth in Britain is substantial, and Ditcheva now has the opportunity to further elevate its profile. Over the years, young people have had a selection of talented British female fighters to admire, including Molly McCann, Joanne Wood, and Cory McKenna, but none have competed for a world title. Ditcheva now has the opportunity to be a pivotal figure in a landmark moment, bringing significant attention to British women in the sport, mirroring the impact of her male compatriot title holders. Ditcheva’s potential is an equally compelling aspect. At only 26 years old, she has already achieved 11 knockouts, a number surpassing what some women accumulate during their entire MMA careers. While Santos is undoubtedly poised to offer Ditcheva her most rigorous challenge to date, a victory would suggest boundless future prospects.