# Dakota Ditcheva

Dakota Lili-Joa Ditcheva (Bulgarian: Дакота Дичева; born 25 July 1998) is an English mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter currently competing in the women's Flyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). She was part of the British team at the 2016 International Federation of Muaythai Amateur World Championships in Jönköping, Sweden, winning gold. She is an overall three-time world champion in the junior divisions and Daily Mirror and Sport England Pride of Sports Young Sportsperson of the Year.

## 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.
Dakota then headed to UAE Warriors 28. Facing another rising star, Paula Cristina, she secured a unanimous decision victory.

### 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.
Ditcheva faced Malin Hermansson in the inaugural PFL Europe season on March 25, 2023 at PFL Europe 1. 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 September 30, 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 December 8, 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 April 4, 2024 and won the bout by technical knockout by a knee to the body and punches.
Ditcheva faced Chelsea Hackett on June 13, 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 August 2, 2024, winning the bout via TKO in the first round.
In the final, Ditcheva faced Taila Santos on November 29, 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.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Professional Fighters League
** 2024 PFL Women's Flyweight Championship
** 2023 PFL Europe Women's Flyweight Championship
* Bloody Elbow
** 2024 Breakout Star of the Yearshared with Joaquin Buckley
* Cageside Press
** 2024 Female Fighter of the Year

### 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 Female Junior -57 kg

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 14 matches | 14 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 12 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 14–0 | Taila Santos | TKO (punches to the body) | PFL 10 (2024) | November 29, 2024 | 2 | 4:41 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Won the 2024 PFL Women's Flyweight Tournament. |
| Win | 13–0 | Jena Bishop | TKO (front kick to the body and punch) | PFL 7 (2024) | August 2, 2024 | 1 | 3:54 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | 2024 PFL Women's Flyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 12–0 | Chelsea Hackett | TKO (punch to the body) | PFL 4 (2024) | June 13, 2024 | 1 | 3:22 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 11–0 | Lisa Mauldin | TKO (knee to the body and punches) | PFL 1 (2024) | April 4, 2024 | 1 | 3:54 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 10–0 | Valentina Scatizzi | TKO (doctor stoppage) | PFL Europe 4 (2023) | December 8, 2023 | 1 | 5:00 | Dublin, Ireland | Won the 2023 PFL Europe Women's Flyweight Tournament. |
| Win | 9–0 | Cornelia Holm | KO (punch to the body) | PFL Europe 3 (2023) | September 30, 2023 | 3 | 2:55 | Paris, France | 2023 PFL Europe Women's Flyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 8–0 | Malin Hermansson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PFL Europe 1 (2023) | March 25, 2023 | 1 | 3:52 | Newcastle, England | 2023 PFL Europe Women's Flyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 7–0 | Katherine Corogenes | KO (punch) | PFL 10 (2022) | November 25, 2022 | 1 | 4:20 | New York City, New York, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Hassna Gaber | TKO (submission to knee to the body) | PFL 9 (2022) | August 20, 2022 | 1 | 0:58 | London, England | |
| Win | 5–0 | Paula Cristina | Decision (unanimous) | UAE Warriors 28 | March 26, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 4–0 | Simone da Silva | TKO (punches) | PAWFC 1 | January 15, 2022 | 2 | 3:43 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 3–0 | Patricia Borges | TKO (elbows) | UK Fighting Championships 17 | November 27, 2021 | 1 | 3:58 | Preston, England | Catchweight (130 lb) bout. |
| Win | 2–0 | Kerry Isom | TKO (punches) | Celtic Gladiator 30 | September 12, 2021 | 1 | 4:49 | Blackburn, England | Catchweight (132 lb) bout. |
| Win | 1–0 | Jenny Line | TKO (elbows and knees) | Caged Steel 25 | April 10, 2021 | 1 | 2:04 | Sheffield, England | Bantamweight debut. |

## Muay Thai record

Professional Muay Thai record :
| 10 Wins , 1 Loss ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time |
| 2017-03-25 | Loss | Amy Pirnie | Yokkao 23 & 24 | Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom | Decision | 5 | 3:00 |
| 2017-02-12 | Win | Kat Paton | Tanko Muay Thai League 1 | Manchester, England, United Kingdom | TKO | 1 | 2:00 |
| 2016-06-25 | Win | Katia Pinto | Machines on Fire | St Helens, England, United Kingdom | Decision | 5 | 3:00 |
| 2016-05-14 | Win | Emma Bragg | The Tanko Main Event | Bolton, England, United Kingdom | TKO | 2 | |
| Wins the ISKA Muay Thai British 51kg Championship. ||||||||
| 2016-03-19 | Win | Maria Becerra | Yokkao 17 & 18 | Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom | TKO | 1 | |
| 2015-11-21 | Win | Myriame Djedidi | The Road to the Main Event | Ashton-under-Lyne, England, United Kingdom | Decision | 5 | 2:00 |
| 2015-04-24 | Win | Hongfah Kor. Jalanfak | Bangla Stadium | Phuket, Thailand | TKO (knee) | 1 | |
| 2015-03-21 | Win | Sophie Lowe | Yokkao 12 & Yokkao 13 | England, United Kingdom | TKO (referee stoppage) | | |
| 2014-11-22 | Win | Jennifer Gallagher | The Road to the Main Event | Ashton-under-Lyne, England, United Kingdom | Decision | 5 | 1:30 |
| 2014-11-01 | Win | Cory McKenna | 2 Raw 2 Ready | Manchester, England, United Kingdom | Decision | 5 | 2:00 |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes ||||||||