Flyweight Champion Ditcheva Seeks to Bring PFL Events to Manchester

Flyweight world champion Dakota Ditcheva has expressed her resolve to bring the Professional Fighters League (PFL) to Manchester. Ditcheva, who grew up in Manchester, achieved a historic milestone in November by becoming the first British female fighter to secure a major mixed martial arts (MMA) world title across the PFL, UFC, or Bellator promotions. The 26-year-old athlete desires her upcoming fight to take place in her home country, following a year (2024) spent competing exclusively in the United States and Saudi Arabia. “For me now, being the first female world champion from the UK is crazy,” Ditcheva informed BBC Sport. She continued, “But that’s why I feel like it’s important for me to keep pushing the Manchester card now, and get as much as I can in Manchester, because I want to be able to bring it home.” Ditcheva added, “I don’t want everything to go to the States. I want everyone to enjoy it here, us to build that fanbase here in the UK, which I don’t feel like we’re doing very well at the moment.” The PFL typically holds its regular season events in the United States, with the exception of its 2024 finals, which were hosted in Saudi Arabia. The league operates on a tournament system, distinguishing it from the UFC, and annually crowns a new champion in each of its divisions. While Ditcheva has not yet competed professionally in Manchester during her MMA career, she did participate in the PFL’s European series in 2023. Boasting an undefeated professional record of 14 fights, including 12 knockouts, Ditcheva is regarded as one of the premier flyweight fighters globally, often mentioned alongside athletes such as UFC champion Valentina Shevchenko. Ditcheva stated that significant effort is still required to expand the MMA fanbase within the UK, which is why she advocates for an increase in events held in the country. This objective seems to be her primary focus for 2025. Despite suggestions from some pundits regarding a potential move to the UFC, Ditcheva indicated that she first needs to “sit down with the PFL” to explore her options. “Maybe you’ll see me do another tournament again, or maybe you’ll see me in Manchester fighting on a pay-per-view card – we’ll see,” Ditcheva remarked. She concluded, “I’m not planning on losing any time soon. So for me, just keep the challenges going and keep getting better.”