Dakota Ditcheva

Background Born on 25 July 1998, in Sale, Greater Manchester, England, Dakota Ditcheva grew up in a family of martial artists. Her father, Ivo Ditchev, is Bulgarian, born in Samokov. Her mother, Lisa Howarth, a multiple-time world kickboxing champion, had influenced Dakota's interest in combat sports. Immersed in this environment from a young age, Dakota began her training in various martial arts disciplines, including kickboxing, Muay Thai, and later, Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Before transitioning to professional mixed martial arts (MMA), Dakota competed in kickboxing and Muay Thai, winning championships in both disciplines. In May 2016, she represented Great Britain at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) World Championships, where she earned a gold medal in the female junior 57 kg division.

Dakota describes herself as having two nationalities, English and Bulgarian. She regularly flies a double English-Bulgarian flag and feels proud of both her backgrounds. She speaks a bit of Bulgarian and travels to the country several times per year to visit relatives.

Dakota is a lifelong fan of football club Manchester City, and replicates various Manchester City players' goal celebrations after winning her fights as a trademark.

Mixed martial arts career

In April 2021, Dakota secured a first-round stoppage victory over fellow debutant Jenny Line at Cage Steel 25. Her second fight at Celtic Gladiator 30, five months later, saw a similar outcome, as she defeated Kerry Isom with a first-round TKO.

At UKFC 17, she secured victory in the first round against Patricia Borges. Her performance caught the attention of international promotions, leading her appearance at PAWFC 1 in Canada. There, she co-headlined the event against Simone da Silva, finishing the fight in the second round with ground strikes.

Professional Fighters League In July 2022, it was announced that Ditcheva had signed with PFL.

During her PFL MMA debut at PFL 9 in London, Ditcheva overcame Hassana Gaber with a first-round TKO. At the PFL 10 preliminary card, she achieved a first-round knockout against Katherine Corogenes, marking her sixth knockout win in her professional career. She won the bout in the first round, submitting Hermansson via rear-naked choke.

Ditcheva faced Cornelia Holm in the semifinals at PFL Europe 3 on 30 September 2023, defeating Holm via body punch KO in the third round.

In the PFL Europe Women's Flyweight final, Ditcheva faced Valentina Scatizzi at PFL Europe 4 on 8 December 2023. She won the fight via TKO between the first and second rounds after the cage-side doctor determined Scatizzi's eye was too swollen to continue.

Ditcheva faced Lisa Mauldin at PFL 1 on 4 April 2024 and won the bout by technical knockout by a knee to the body and punches.

Ditcheva faced Chelsea Hackett on 13 June 2024 at PFL 4. She won the fight via body punch TKO in the first round.

Ditcheva next faced Jena Bishop in the semi-finals of the 2024 Women's Flyweight tournament at PFL 7 on 2 August 2024, winning the bout via TKO in the first round.

In the final, Ditcheva faced Taila Santos on 29 November 2024, at PFL 10. She won the tournament and $1 million prize by technical knockout via body punches in the second round, being the first to finish Santos, and also becoming the youngest champion in PFL history and the first British female MMA world champion.

Ditcheva faced Sumiko Inaba on 19 July 2025, at PFL Champions Series 2. She won the bout by unanimous decision.

Ditcheva was scheduled to face Denise Kielholtz in a flyweight bout at PFL Dubai: Nurmagomedov vs. Davis on 7 February 2026, but had to withdraw from the fight due to an injury. The bout was re-scheduled and took place on 31 July 2026, at PFL New York. Ditcheva won the bout via unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Professional Fighters League 2024 PFL Women's Flyweight Championship 2023 PFL Europe Women's Flyweight Championship ESPN 2024 Non-UFC Female Fighter of the Year MMA Junkie 2024 Female Fighter of the Year LowKick MMA 2024 Female Fighter of the Year Bloody Elbow 2024 Breakout Star of the Year shared with Joaquin Buckley Combat Press 2024 Female Fighter of the Year Cageside Press 2022 Women's Flyweight Prospect of the Year 2024 Female Fighter of the Year Uncrowned 2024 Female Fighter of the Year MMA Mania 2024 #5 Ranked Fighter of the Year MMA Fighting 2022 Third Team MMA All-Star 2023 Second Team MMA All-Star 2024 First Team MMA All-Star

Muay Thai International Sport Kickboxing Association 2016 ISKA Muay Thai British Super Atomweight (-50.5 kg) Championship International Federation of Muaythai Associations 2016 IFMA World Muaythai Championships in Jönköping, Sweden Gold Female Junior -57 kg

Mixed martial arts record Win

Denise Kielholtz Decision (unanimous) PFL New York: Nurmagomedov vs. Colgan

Elmont, New York, United States Win

Sumiko Inaba Decision (unanimous) PFL Champions Series 2

Cape Town, South Africa Win

Taila Santos TKO (punches to the body) PFL 10 (2024)

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Win

Jena Bishop TKO (front kick to the body and punch) PFL 7 (2024)

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Win

Chelsea Hackett TKO (punch to the body) PFL 4 (2024)

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Lisa Mauldin TKO (knee to the body and punches) PFL 1 (2024)

San Antonio, Texas, United States Win

Valentina Scatizzi TKO (doctor stoppage) PFL Europe 4 (2023)

Dublin, Ireland Win

Cornelia Holm KO (punch to the body) PFL Europe 3 (2023)

Paris, France Win

Malin Hermansson Submission (rear-naked choke) PFL Europe 1 (2023)

Newcastle, England Win

Katherine Corogenes KO (punch) PFL 10 (2022)

New York City, New York, United States Win

Hassna Gaber TKO (submission to knee to the body) PFL 9 (2022)

London, England Win

Paula Cristina Decision (unanimous) UAE Warriors 28

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Simone da Silva TKO (punches) Pallas Athena Women's FC 1

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Win

Patricia Borges TKO (elbows) UK Fighting Championships 17

Preston, England Win

Kerry Isom TKO (punches) Celtic Gladiator 30

Blackburn, England Win

Jenny Line TKO (elbows and knees) Caged Steel 25

Sheffield, England Muay Thai record