Latest news with #SumikoInaba
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dakota Ditcheva details terms of new PFL contract, 'frustration' over long layoff
PFL brought out all its stars for its debut in Cape Town, South Africa this past weekend, including pound-for-pound climber Dakota Ditcheva. Now 15-0 after her dominant unanimous decision win over Sumiko Inaba, the undefeated superstar had gathered dust on the shelf since her last appearance in November — the eight-month layoff represented, by far, the longest of her MMA career. Ditcheva voiced her concerns about inactivity in recent months, which ultimately led to her getting her wish and landing the Inaba fight. Along with that in-cage return came a fresh new PFL contract as well, as Ditcheva revealed after her win. Speaking this week on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show," Ditcheva expanded on what her immediate future with the company entails. "I am happy now in the end. It took a while," Ditcheva said. "I fought last November, so it took us a while until something was right for the both of us, but I'm happy now. I've secured my future for me and my family. I'll be there until 2027. How can I not be happy with that? I'm looking forward to hopefully building the division now and challenging someone else. If I'm not champion, I don't really care about that. I care about winning. I don't really care about the belt. So, for me, I get to challenge other girls now and I'm happy to carry on doing that, but getting what I deserve out of it at the same time." Unfortunately for Ditcheva, her long-awaited return didn't land as an overall positive. In the opening minute of the third round against Inaba, Ditcheva broke her left hand on a punch. She underwent surgery this week to repair the damage, postponing any hopes of her regaining steam and maintaining a high level of activity. Ultimately, the negotiation period took as long as it did because Ditcheva stood her ground after her breakthrough run through 2024's PFL flyweight tournament. "I just know what I deserve now, and I feel like it just took a little bit of time for them to understand how serious I was about getting what I deserve. I wasn't really going to settle, as well," she said. "It's difficult. [PFL] haven't really seen where the division's going. I want to be somewhere that's active, and when you keep me out for eight months, you're not giving me any confidence for me to be active. I'm not OK with sitting out for eight months, and I'm not OK sitting out for longer. So I had to kind of sit down and get a plan with them and know that I'm going to be fighting and I'm not going to be out for another eight months, which is now part of my contract. I have dates in there now. I've got time limits where they need to keep me active, and I feel like they understood how serious I was about good opponents and making sure I'm fighting. Once we'd come to that agreement, I felt like we'd come to a good deal in place." Ditcheva, 26, has mostly been a silent but violent force throughout her career, letting her work in the cage do much of her talking. That's still the case, however she gained so much momentum in 2024 that she became a pound-for-pound player; she currently sits at No. 5 here at Uncrowned. Having that momentum halted by the promotion's decision-making in 2025 rather than her own was far from ideal. "For sure, I felt the frustration, but I wanted to stay professional," Ditcheva said. "Obviously a lot of people went online and stuff [to complain], and everyone's different. Obviously people are sat out a lot longer than I have. I just kind of wanted to make sure I had a direction first before I started moaning publicly. I felt like it was something PFL and I could solve behind closed doors, and we have in the end. "I did do that one interview that was telling everyone I don't know what's going on, then literally like the next weekend I had a fight announced, so it kind of helped at the same time. I prefer to keep everything private and work through it that way until it's necessary." Going forward, activity shouldn't be an issue for the British knockout artist thanks to her new contract. Ditcheva shared that she has a certain number of fights guaranteed to fulfill until her contract expires in 2027. So depending on how quickly she fulfills those fights, she can become a free agent earlier. In the interim, Ditcheva will heal from her broken hand. After that, who knows what could be in store, as she teased the possibility of unexpected possibilities, including non-MMA fights. "You never know what happens in the next two years," Ditcheva said. "You could see some kind of — I don't know. People might lose their mind at the top of these promotions and make us do a crossover. You just don't know. You've got to be patient. Anything can happen in two years. Don't write me off."
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ditcheva outclasses Inaba despite hand injury
Dakota Ditcheva shrugged off an injured hand as she outclassed Sumiko Inaba to win by unanimous decision at the PFL Champions Series in South Manchester fighter never looked in danger as she pummelled Inaba throughout, before easing off in the final round after telling her corner "I've broken my hand".Inaba couldn't capitalise as Ditcheva cruised to the final bell, using kicks to keep the American at bay as she extended the unbeaten start to her career to 15."I think I injured my left hand. I think I'm gutted because I've been out for so long and then I'm injured again, but I hope you guys enjoyed it," said a teary bout was the 26-year-old's first in eight months after becoming the first British woman to win an MMA world title in had voiced her frustrations pre-fight at the eight-month lay-off but confirmed after beating Inaba she has signed a new deal with the PFL."I have just re-signed with PFL, we've come to a great agreement and I'm gonna look forward to the next few years together in front of crowds like this. You guys really set a standard," she fight card was also the first major MMA event to take place in Africa and Ditcheva paid tribute to the crowd, adding "that was the best walkout I've ever had, thank you so much". Ditcheva had been vocal about her time away from the cage in the build-up to the bout, blaming a lack of credible opponents for the cruised through the PFL flyweight tournament last year with four straight stoppages and, with many of her opponents fighting in this year's competition, saw little value in entering it was eventually paired up with Inaba based on the 34-year-old winning eight of her nine professional bouts, while Ditcheva added "there is no denying her skill level".Although Inaba showed courage and admirable durability throughout, the Briton remained a class started by pushing forward but it didn't take long for Ditcheva to initiate the clinch and take control - as she would throughout the fight - to land a number of damaging stunned Inaba in the second round with an elbow and flurry of strikes, but Inaba showed grit to take the flyweight champion to the third round for the first time in six bouts. With the crowd chanting her name, Ditcheva landed more crunching knees from the clinch before adopting a more careful approach after injuring her hand after a punch. Inaba was already too worn down to take advantage, however, as her opponent used kicks to maintain distance before showboating and cupping her ears to the crowd in the main event, Spain's Costello van Steenis beat American Johnny Eblen to win the PFL middleweight title in a remarkable Eblen seemingly heading towards a decision victory, Van Steenis secured a rear-naked choke, forcing the submission with just nine seconds of the bout remaining.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'It's been difficult' - the champion who ran out of challengers
PFL Champions Series: Dakota Ditcheva v Sumiko Inaba Date: Saturday, 19 July Venue: Grand Arena, Cape Town, South Africa When Dakota Ditcheva became the first British woman to win an MMA world title, she had no idea of the frustration that would follow. After the 26-year-old's historic win over Taila Santos in the PFL flyweight final - her fourth victory in a golden 2024 - she had all the momentum. Congratulations poured in from icons of women's MMA, including Amanda Nunes, Cris Cyborg and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, but soon the narrative would develop. The question starting to form on everybody's lips after that career-high moment in November was "what's next?". Ditcheva was ready to fight anyone, but the dominant way in which she had dispatched her opponents - including three first-round stoppages and one in the second round - meant there were no worthy challengers left in the promotion. "Obviously, with me walking through them last year it's made it difficult," Ditcheva tells BBC Sport. "It's definitely frustrating. I did so well last year - I fought in the cage four times and obviously the last one was a big one and drew a lot of attention, but now I felt like my momentum had kind of dropped off. "Santos was the top girl in the division and the fact I walked through her so easily is another thing which made this year so difficult. They [the PFL] didn't know which direction to put me in." Manchester's Ditcheva is under contract with the PFL so cannot freely join another promotion to seek new challengers. Ditcheva says she considered entering the PFL's flyweight tournament again this year, but she declined because many of the fighters involved competed in 2024. She points to this year's flyweight tournament finalist Jena Bishop, who Ditcheva knocked out in the first round last August, as an example. "I wanted to fight the next level and keep moving up, so that's been the tough thing this year," said Ditcheva. After all the waiting, the PFL has matched Ditcheva with American Sumiko Inaba, with the pair set to fight at the Champions Series in Cape Town, South Africa on Saturday. With the majority of her theoretically possible opponents competing in the flyweight tournament, Ditcheva says Inaba was selected based on her winning eight of her nine fights and "there's no denying her skill level". It remains to be seen how much of a threat the 34-year-old from Hawaii will present. This event marks the first time a major MMA show has taken place in Africa. Despite being frustrated by the eight-month wait to secure an opponent, Ditcheva can see a positive to her time away from the cage - the buzz of anticipation for her return to action. Her elite striking has led to 12 knockouts in 14 fights, making Ditcheva one of the most exciting British fighters around. "I fought four times last year which gave people a lot, but now I feel they're all waiting for me to fight," said Ditcheva. "I'm trying to see it as people are looking forward to seeing me fight more now because I've been out for so long." Inaba last competed in September 2024, beating Mackenzie Stiller. "She's been around longer than I have. I don't know whether she is the fight I would have chosen, but then again I don't know what fight I would have chosen," said Ditcheva. "I'm just happy they were able to give me a fight. I'm looking forward to it and I'm expecting a tough fight." Ditcheva and Inaba compete in what is billed as the co-main event at the Grand Arena, with American Johnny Eblen defending his middleweight title against Spain's Costello van Steenis in the headline fight. Eblen is the reigning Bellator middleweight champion, last defending it against Fabian Edwards in October last year, but the brand has since been dissolved after the PFL acquired it during a merger in 2023. To replace the Bellator title, the PFL has manufactured a new belt to give to the winner. The Nigerian corporal making MMA history for Africa MMA schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode More MMA from the BBC Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'It's been difficult' - the champion who ran out of challengers
PFL Champions Series: Dakota Ditcheva v Sumiko InabaDate: Saturday, 19 July Venue: Grand Arena, Cape Town, South Africa When Dakota Ditcheva became the first British woman to win an MMA world title, she had no idea of the frustration that would the 26-year-old's historic win over Taila Santos in the PFL flyweight final - her fourth victory in a golden 2024 - she had all the poured in from icons of women's MMA, including Amanda Nunes, Cris Cyborg and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, but soon the narrative would question starting to form on everybody's lips after that career-high moment in November was "what's next?".Ditcheva was ready to fight anyone, but the dominant way in which she had dispatched her opponents - including three first-round stoppages and one in the second round - meant there were no worthy challengers left in the promotion."Obviously, with me walking through them last year it's made it difficult," Ditcheva tells BBC Sport."It's definitely frustrating. I did so well last year - I fought in the cage four times and obviously the last one was a big one and drew a lot of attention, but now I felt like my momentum had kind of dropped off."Santos was the top girl in the division and the fact I walked through her so easily is another thing which made this year so difficult. They [the PFL] didn't know which direction to put me in." Manchester's Ditcheva is under contract with the PFL so cannot freely join another promotion to seek new says she considered entering the PFL's flyweight tournament again this year, but she declined because many of the fighters involved competed in points to this year's flyweight tournament finalist Jena Bishop, who Ditcheva knocked out in the first round last August, as an example."I wanted to fight the next level and keep moving up, so that's been the tough thing this year," said Ditcheva. After all the waiting, the PFL has matched Ditcheva with American Sumiko Inaba, with the pair set to fight at the Champions Series in Cape Town, South Africa on the majority of her theoretically possible opponents competing in the flyweight tournament, Ditcheva says Inaba was selected based on her winning eight of her nine fights and "there's no denying her skill level". It remains to be seen how much of a threat the 34-year-old from Hawaii will event marks the first time a major MMA show has taken place in being frustrated by the eight-month wait to secure an opponent, Ditcheva can see a positive to her time away from the cage - the buzz of anticipation for her return to elite striking has led to 12 knockouts in 14 fights, making Ditcheva one of the most exciting British fighters around."I fought four times last year which gave people a lot, but now I feel they're all waiting for me to fight," said Ditcheva."I'm trying to see it as people are looking forward to seeing me fight more now because I've been out for so long." Inaba last competed in September 2024, beating Mackenzie Stiller."She's been around longer than I have. I don't know whether she is the fight I would have chosen, but then again I don't know what fight I would have chosen," said Ditcheva."I'm just happy they were able to give me a fight. I'm looking forward to it and I'm expecting a tough fight."Ditcheva and Inaba compete in what is billed as the co-main event at the Grand Arena, with American Johnny Eblen defending his middleweight title against Spain's Costello van Steenis in the headline is the reigning Bellator middleweight champion, last defending it against Fabian Edwards in October last year, but the brand has since been dissolved after the PFL acquired it during a merger in replace the Bellator title, the PFL has manufactured a new belt to give to the winner.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dakota Ditcheva channeling Khabib Nurmagomodov as she targets MMA's improbable records
Dakota Ditcheva is ignoring the naysayers and targeting one of the more improbable records in all of mixed martial arts. 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.
