Dakota Ditcheva channeling Khabib Nurmagomodov as she targets MMA's improbable records
Ditcheva, 26, became the youngest champion in PFL history in 2024, and now returns to fight on July 19 for the first time since her breakout $1 million tournament success. The striker meets Sumiko Inaba in a women's flyweight bout in the co-main event of PFL's debut trip to the GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa. Johnny Elben fights Costello van Steenis in the headline bout, while high-flyer A.J. McKee also takes on Akhmed Magomedov in his first bout since a 2024 split decision loss to Paul Hughes.
Advertisement
'It's going to be a really good matchup,' Ditcheva told Uncrowned ahead of her first fight in seven months. 'Nobody can say [Inaba has] not proven herself. I've seen her around … I have taken it seriously.'
Success on fight night isn't the only thing Ditcheva has on her mind, because she wants to be a Khabib Nurmagomedov or Floyd Mayweather for the new era. She wants to storm in, create a legacy, and retire at the top of the sport with an undefeated record in tow.
Nurmagomedov (29-0) famously ran a gauntlet at lightweight, beating Rafael dos Anjos, Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, before calling the curtain on his UFC career with a triangle choke over Justin Gaethje in front of only a handful of people at a behind-closed-doors, COVID-era bubble in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Mayweather (50-0), too, dominated his discipline, retiring as a near-billionaire in boxing after wins over Oscar de la Hoya, Manny Pacquiao and McGregor, among many others.
Advertisement
'People always say there'll always be someone there who can beat you, but, who says? Why do people say that?" Ditcheva asked. "Why accept you're going to get beat at one point? That's not the mentality you should have.'
Ditcheva is already 14-0 with 13 wins by finish (12 knockouts and one submission). Only Paula Cristina has taken her the distance in just Ditcheva's fifth pro fight, and that hasn't happened again in more than three years.
The PFL star is an even greater talent these days, showing a particularly nasty appetite for finishing fights with brutal body shots — like her signature win over the one-time UFC flyweight title challenger Taila Santos this past November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Uncrowned recognized her exploits by touting her as one of MMA's breakout athletes of 2024, and the combat sports industry ended the year talking up a possible future fight between herself and the UFC flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko.
Advertisement
By many metrics, Dakota is PFL's biggest homegrown star since Kayla Harrison, who herself is on the cusp of a generational showdown as UFC bantamweight champion against Amanda Nunes — a bout Ditcheva said she'd struggle to watch because she has a relationship with both of American Top Team's championship athletes.
Victory over Inaba later this month would advance Ditcheva's professional record to 15-0, but she refuses to stop there. 'If you get beat, it happens,' she said. 'But that's not something I think about. I think about staying undefeated [and going to] 15-0, 30-0, 60-0.
'I'm not thinking about one loss on my record. Hell, no. It's not going to happen for me.'
Why accept you're going to get beat at one point? That's not the mentality you should have. Dakota Ditcheva
Should Ditcheva keep tallying wins, her growing reputation in combat sports will no doubt transition from that of a breakout performer to a top-tier pound-for-pound sensation. She's already envisioning a dream fight at the 53,000-capacity Etihad Stadium, home of English Premier League giant Manchester City. It's a venue that beloved British boxer Ricky Hatton once fought in, having defeated Juan Lazcano in a homecoming bout back in 2008. Ditcheva wants to be the first MMA fighter to headline the venue.
Advertisement
'[Fighting at the] Etihad is my dream,' she said. 'We'll have the full Manchester City team [in attendance]. I might even have [City coach] Pep [Guardiola] in the corner, and have him walk me out.
'He's very strategic about mindset,' Ditcheva added of the three-time UEFA Champions League-winning coach. 'He'd be a good person to have in the corner. We need to make that happen so he can walk me out before he retires.'
As for the dream opponent, Ditcheva stopped short of name-checking Shevchenko, considering the Kyrgyzstani fighter competes in a rival organization. 'Whoever the best girl is at that time,' she said instead.
For now, though, Ditcheva simply wants to help PFL make history in new grounds in South Africa against Inaba, before reclaiming her PFL flyweight belt before the end of the year.
Advertisement
"I want to be busy,' she said. 'I want to have my belt back by the end of the year. Whichever girl wins, I'll take it from them, for sure. That's my belt. And I'm excited to get it back.'
Considering the spectacularly violent nature of her wins to date, few should bet against her.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UFC 319 'Embedded,' No. 6: Before, during and after that intense DDP-Chimaev faceoff
The UFC is back in the "Windy City" for the first time in more than six years for UFC 319, its ninth pay-per-view of the calendar year, and the popular "Embedded" fight week video series is here to document what's happening behind the scenes. UFC 319 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at United Center in Chicago. In the headliner, middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) puts his title on the line for the third time when he meets unbeaten – and favored – challenger Khamzat Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC). In addition, wrestling standout Aaron Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his highly anticipated UFC debut after years in Bellator when he takes on unbeaten featherweight Lerone Murphy (16-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) in the co-main event. Plus, the popular Michael Page (23-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) meets former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier (18-8 MMA, 11-8 UFC) and more in the home of the Bulls and Blackhawks. The sixth and final episode of "Embedded" follows the headliners and featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC's description of the episode from YouTube: Khamzat Chimaev and Baisangur Susurkaev have a last training session together before weigh ins; Aaron Pico cuts weight in a local gym; Champ Dricus Du Plessis wraps up his weight cut and talks about how important it is to make championship weight; Athletes step on the scales for the UFC 319 Official Weigh Ins; Chase Hooper has lunch with his family; It's final face offs before stepping in the Octagon at the UFC 319 Previous UFC 319 'Embedded' episodes UFC 319 'Embedded,' No. 1: Dricus Du Plessis gets first taste of the 'Friendly Confines' UFC 319 'Embedded,' No. 2: Dricus Du Plessis takes in Michael Jordan's banners UFC 319 'Embedded,' No. 3: What DDP and Chimaev said during 'respectful' first meeting UFC 319 'Embedded,' No. 4: Lerone Murphy tosses first pitch, DWCS winner arrives UFC 319 'Embedded,' No. 5: Fighters see Chicago, thankfully absent tourist deep dish 'pizza' This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 319 'Embedded' 6: The intense DDP-Chimaev faceoff up close
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Maxwell powers Australia to T20 series-clinching win over South Africa
CAIRNS, Australia (AP) — Glenn Maxwell's unbeaten half-century led Australia to a sensational two-wicket win over South Africa in the final T20 and clinched the series 2-1 on Saturday. With four needed off the final two balls, Maxwell reverse swiped Lungi Ngidi to third and stayed unbeaten on 62 off 36 balls as Australia reached 173-8 and denied South Africa its maiden T20 series win in Australia. Young T20 batting sensation Dewald Brevis had earlier made 53 off 26 balls that featured four sixes in one over off Aaron Hardie before Australia pulled back nicely and restricted the Proteas at 172-7. Both teams observed a minute of silence before the game and paid tribute to former Australia captain and coach Bob Simpson, who died at the age of 89. Captain Mitchell Marsh (54), who won the toss and elected to chase, and Travis Head had provided Australia a strong start of 66-1 in eight overs but South Africa stormed back with four wickets in four overs. Head couldn't capitalize on an opportunity when South Africa skipper Aiden Markram couldn't hold onto a tough return catch but the left-handed Head spooned an easy catch to short fine leg in the same over. Josh Inglis recovered from illness after missing out the last game but was clean bowled by Corbin Bosch off the first ball he faced. But Kwena Maphaka dealt a twin blow when both Marsh and Cameron Green couldn't clear the fielders in the outfield as Australia slipped to 88-4 in the 11th over. Experienced fast bowler Kagiso Rabada then removed Tim David and Hardie in one over as Australia further slipped to 122-6 before Maxwell farmed the strike and shielded Ben Dwarshuis from the South African pacers. Dwarshuis contributed just 1 off six balls in a partnership of 41 with Maxwell as the power-hitter didn't let the asking rate shoot up. With 12 needed off the last two overs, Bosch once again turned the game around with the wickets of Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis off successive balls before Maxwell sealed the game by smashing two boundaries. 'It was a little bit nerve wracking,' Maxwell said after hitting eight fours and two sixes in his player-of-the-match knock. 'When we lost a couple of wickets in a row, Corbin Bosch bowled a brilliant over to sort of keep the run rate near 9 or 10 … and I probably had to do the majority of the striking, but it was it was nice to get a couple out of the middle (of the bat) right near the end.' Earlier, Brevis' dismissal in the 12th over proved crucial for South Africa when Maxwell plucked a stunning diving catch at wide mid-on to end another blistering knock from a 22-year-old batter as the Proteas could add further 62 off the final 50 balls. Brevis hit six sixes and raised his half-century off just 22 balls when he smacked Hardie for four consecutive sixes before he was undone by Ellis' short ball and Maxwell took a blinder. Ellis picked up 3-31 while Adam Zampa (2-24) also squeezed the runs in the middle overs and Josh Hazlewood chipping away with 2-30. ___ AP cricket:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Maxwell powers Australia to T20 series-clinching win over South Africa
CAIRNS, Australia (AP) — Glenn Maxwell's unbeaten half-century led Australia to a sensational two-wicket win over South Africa in the final T20 and clinched the series 2-1 on Saturday. With four needed off the final two balls, Maxwell reverse swiped Lungi Ngidi to third and stayed unbeaten on 62 off 36 balls as Australia reached 173-8 and denied South Africa its maiden T20 series win in Australia. Young T20 batting sensation Dewald Brevis had earlier made 53 off 26 balls that featured four sixes in one over off Aaron Hardie before Australia pulled back nicely and restricted the Proteas at 172-7. Both teams observed a minute of silence before the game and paid tribute to former Australia captain and coach Bob Simpson, who died at the age of 89. Captain Mitchell Marsh (54), who won the toss and elected to chase, and Travis Head had provided Australia a strong start of 66-1 in eight overs but South Africa stormed back with four wickets in four overs. Head couldn't capitalize on an opportunity when South Africa skipper Aiden Markram couldn't hold onto a tough return catch but the left-handed Head spooned an easy catch to short fine leg in the same over. Josh Inglis recovered from illness after missing out the last game but was clean bowled by Corbin Bosch off the first ball he faced. But Kwena Maphaka dealt a twin blow when both Marsh and Cameron Green couldn't clear the fielders in the outfield as Australia slipped to 88-4 in the 11th over. Experienced fast bowler Kagiso Rabada then removed Tim David and Hardie in one over as Australia further slipped to 122-6 before Maxwell farmed the strike and shielded Ben Dwarshuis from the South African pacers. Dwarshuis contributed just 1 off six balls in a partnership of 41 with Maxwell as the power-hitter didn't let the asking rate shoot up. With 12 needed off the last two overs, Bosch once again turned the game around with the wickets of Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis off successive balls before Maxwell sealed the game by smashing two boundaries. 'It was a little bit nerve wracking,' Maxwell said after hitting eight fours and two sixes in his player-of-the-match knock. 'When we lost a couple of wickets in a row, Corbin Bosch bowled a brilliant over to sort of keep the run rate near 9 or 10 … and I probably had to do the majority of the striking, but it was it was nice to get a couple out of the middle (of the bat) right near the end.' Earlier, Brevis' dismissal in the 12th over proved crucial for South Africa when Maxwell plucked a stunning diving catch at wide mid-on to end another blistering knock from a 22-year-old batter as the Proteas could add further 62 off the final 50 balls. Brevis hit six sixes and raised his half-century off just 22 balls when he smacked Hardie for four consecutive sixes before he was undone by Ellis' short ball and Maxwell took a blinder. Ellis picked up 3-31 while Adam Zampa (2-24) also squeezed the runs in the middle overs and Josh Hazlewood chipping away with 2-30. ___ AP cricket:
