Tag: PFL News

Dakota Ditcheva Questions Quality of Competition in 2025 PFL Tournament: ‘I Just Beat the Top Girl’

Dakota Ditcheva Questions Quality of Competition in Future PFL Tournaments: 'I Just Beat the Top Girl'After smashing her way through Taila Santos at the PFL World Championship in Riyadh, Dakota Ditcheva can’t help but…

Dakota Ditcheva Questions Quality of Competition in Future PFL Tournaments: 'I Just Beat the Top Girl'

After smashing her way through Taila Santos at the PFL World Championship in Riyadh, Dakota Ditcheva can’t help but wonder what’s left for her to accomplish in 2025.

‘Dangerous’ ran the table during this year’s inaugural PFL women’s flyweight tournament, earning four straight finishes, including a second-round TKO against former UFC title challenger Taila Santos at the promotion’s final event of the year in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking with talkSPORT following her million-dollar victory, Ditcheva expressed some concern over potentially competing in next year’s tournament considering she’s already dispatched her toughest test.

“I don’t know, we haven’t spoken about it too much with PFL,” Ditcheva said when asked about her future. “I think it’s difficult because for me, I just beat the top girl that is out there. So, if you put me back in the tournament, I’m gonna get more stick for fighting the same girls and people that are lower level.

“So, does it make sense to do that with someone that’s like, I feel like I bring in a lot of attention and stuff like that, so I feel maybe a super fight might suit a little bit better, but then, is anyone going to watch the season without me in it? I don’t know. We’ll see what happens” (h/t MMA Mania).

Dakota Ditcheva could face the same struggle that Kayla Harrison did in the PFL

If the story sounds familiar, that’s probably because two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison faced a similar struggle during her time with the organization. Harrison ran roughshod over much of the competition, leading many to criticize her for kicking around a bunch of cans rather than taking on the toughest fighters available.

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Hopefully, they will refrain from subjecting Ditcheva to a similar fate by signing some fresh talent to the flyweight pool ahead of next year’s tournament because, as it stands, there’s not much for Ditcheva or her fans to be excited about in 2025.

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Top 5: Best Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts in MMA – PFL Striker Packs Dangerous Power

Dakota Ditcheva KnockoutsWe are going to countdown the best Dakota Ditcheva knockouts in MMA history but it will not be easy…

Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts

We are going to countdown the best Dakota Ditcheva knockouts in MMA history but it will not be easy choosing just five as the Bulgarian-English fighter has a KO win rate of 85%. ‘Dangerous’ Dakota Ditcheva just won $1,000,000 in the PFL 2024 season having won all of her matches by way of knockout crowing herself a champion and a new MMA star.

Top 5 Best Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts

The unbeaten ‘Dangerous’ Dakota Ditcheva grew up learning striking from her mother Lisa Howarth who was a title holder in Muay Thai, Karate, and Kickboxing. Ditcheva won amateur titles in Muay Thai and Kickboxing, then transitioned to MMA and has won European and world titles in the PFL. She mainly trains stateside at American Top Team but still credits all of her success to her mom. Let’s take a closer look at the career best Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts.

5. Dakota Ditcheva vs. Katherine Corogenes

The Bulgarian-English athlete dominated Katherine Corogenes on the ground and then delivered a right cross which put her opponent out cold in an iconic knockout.

4. Dakota Ditcheva vs. Jena Bishop

Showing off her full striking arsenal, Ditcheva attacked Jena Bishop with knees in the clinch, teep kicks, and head punches to put her down as one of the best Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts.

3. Dakota Ditcheva vs. Valentina Scatizzi

To capture the European PFL title, Dakota Ditcheva knocked out Italy’s Valentina Scatizzi with a series of knees in the clinch. This performance had her compared to Anderson Silva.

2. Dakota Ditcheva vs. Cornelia Holm

Ditcheva was pushed for the first time in her PFL career against Cornelia Holm. ‘Dangerous’ had blasted all of her opponents out of there in the first round, but with clinches and takedowns, Holm made it to round three before getting knocked out with a low-high punching combination to set the Paris crown alight.

1. Dakota Ditcheva vs. Talia Santos

Talia Santos was set to be the biggest challenge of Ditcheva’s career. This was the PFL world championship finals and Brazil’s Santos had walked through the competition thus far and was a former top-ranked UFC contender. This is one of the Best Dakota Ditcheva Knockouts as she made it look easy. She dominated Santos with a barrage of punches and kicks crowning herself the PFL champion and one of the best in the world.

    Francis Ngannou Calls Out Jon Jones: ‘The Right Fight’ – PFL vs. UFC

    Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones PFL vs UFCPFL heavyweight king Francis Ngannou has called out for a match against the UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, in…

    Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones PFL vs UFC

    PFL heavyweight king Francis Ngannou has called out for a match against the UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, in a battle of the top of the heavyweight MMA world.

    Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones

    ‘The Predator’ Francis Ngannou, of Cameroon, won and defended the UFC heavyweight title before walking away from the organization. To this day, he still carries the lineal UFC heavyweight championship which dates back decades. Since leaving the UFC, he has taken on two blockbuster boxing matches and captured the PFL heavyweight throne with a first-round knockout.

    After Ngannou had left the UFC, ‘Bones’ Jon Jones stepped up to heavyweight after an incredible career at light heavyweight to grab the vacant title by first-round submission and later defended it against Stipe Miocic. The UFC heavyweight division currently has an interim champion, Tom Aspinall, who has also defended his title but Jones refuses to book the match. Instead, the US-born Jones is looking to face the light heavyweight champion or retire.

    The PFL and lineal UFC champion Francis Ngannou is insisting that he should be next to face Jon Jones, adding even more names to the mix ahead of ‘Bones.’ This would be a battle of titles with the Cameroonian knockout machine carrying UFC lineage and Jones bringing the current heavyweight crown.

    On X, Francis Ngannou Tweeted at Jon Jones:

    “Blessings make haters uncomfortable, but they can’t change it. There’s only one fight, the right fight that will multiply your blessings. #NgannouVSJones.”

    Five-time UFC champion Randy Couture recently said in an interview that it’s time for Jon Jones to step up and face Aspinall or Ngannou. ‘The Natural’ Couture explained:

    “Jon Jones—as much as he doesn’t wanna fight Francis—is gonna have trouble avoiding that. Now he says he didn’t wanna fight Tom. I mean, why? You’re supposedly the GOAT. Step up and fight.”

    Francis Ngannou PFL
    Photo by Tim Wheaton

    Francis Ngannou Calls Out Jon Jones: ‘The Right Fight’ – PFL vs. UFC

    Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones PFL vs UFCPFL heavyweight king Francis Ngannou has called out for a match against the UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, in…

    Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones PFL vs UFC

    PFL heavyweight king Francis Ngannou has called out for a match against the UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, in a battle of the top of the heavyweight MMA world.

    Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones

    ‘The Predator’ Francis Ngannou, of Cameroon, won and defended the UFC heavyweight title before walking away from the organization. To this day, he still carries the lineal UFC heavyweight championship which dates back decades. Since leaving the UFC, he has taken on two blockbuster boxing matches and captured the PFL heavyweight throne with a first-round knockout.

    After Ngannou had left the UFC, ‘Bones’ Jon Jones stepped up to heavyweight after an incredible career at light heavyweight to grab the vacant title by first-round submission and later defended it against Stipe Miocic. The UFC heavyweight division currently has an interim champion, Tom Aspinall, who has also defended his title but Jones refuses to book the match. Instead, the US-born Jones is looking to face the light heavyweight champion or retire.

    The PFL and lineal UFC champion Francis Ngannou is insisting that he should be next to face Jon Jones, adding even more names to the mix ahead of ‘Bones.’ This would be a battle of titles with the Cameroonian knockout machine carrying UFC lineage and Jones bringing the current heavyweight crown.

    On X, Francis Ngannou Tweeted at Jon Jones:

    “Blessings make haters uncomfortable, but they can’t change it. There’s only one fight, the right fight that will multiply your blessings. #NgannouVSJones.”

    Five-time UFC champion Randy Couture recently said in an interview that it’s time for Jon Jones to step up and face Aspinall or Ngannou. ‘The Natural’ Couture explained:

    “Jon Jones—as much as he doesn’t wanna fight Francis—is gonna have trouble avoiding that. Now he says he didn’t wanna fight Tom. I mean, why? You’re supposedly the GOAT. Step up and fight.”

    Francis Ngannou PFL
    Photo by Tim Wheaton

    Dakota Ditcheva Brutalizes Taila Santos, Scores Body Shot KO in Round 2 – PFL World Championship Highlights

    Dakota Ditcheva Brutalizes Taila Santos, Scores Body Shot KO in Round 2 - PFL World Championship HighlightsDakota Ditcheva become the first woman to finish former UFC title challenger Taila Santos, becoming the first-ever PFL women’s…

    Dakota Ditcheva Brutalizes Taila Santos, Scores Body Shot KO in Round 2 - PFL World Championship Highlights

    Dakota Ditcheva become the first woman to finish former UFC title challenger Taila Santos, becoming the first-ever PFL women’s flyweight tournament winner at Friday’s PFL World Championship event in Riyadh.

    Ditcheva got things started with some stinging leg kicks, prompting Santos to shoot in for a takedown. Despite her best efforts to muscle Ditcheva down to the mat, she was unable to do so. Santos found some success with her second takedown attempt, but Ditcheva popped right back up, broke the grip, and separated with relative ease.

    From there, it was all Ditcheva on the feet, peppering Santos with a variety of strikes, including a few sneaky knees and a slick front kick to the face.

    In the waning seconds of the second round, Ditcheva poured it on and caught Santos against the fence with a vicious body shot. Santos folded over from the blow, allowing Ditcheva to land a couple more before the referee stepped in and brought a stop to the action with only seconds left.

    Official Result: Dakota Ditcheva def. Taila Santos via TKO (body shots) at 4:41 of Round 2.

    Check Out Highlights From Dakota Ditcheva vs. Taila Santos at the PFL World Championship:

    Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov Demolishes Impa Kasanganay in 58 Seconds to Win Light Heavyweight Tournament – PFL World Championship Highlights

    Impa Kasanganay vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov - PFL World ChampionshipDovletdzhan Yagshimuradov made quick work of Impa Kasanganay at the PFL World Championship in Riyadh, finishing the former UFC…

    Impa Kasanganay vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov - PFL World Championship

    Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov made quick work of Impa Kasanganay at the PFL World Championship in Riyadh, finishing the former UFC standout in less than a minute to win the 2024 light heavyweight tournament.

    Impa Kasanganay looked to close the distance and exchange early, but it ended up costing him big after Yagshimuradov caught him with a counter-right that staggered the 2023 PFL champion. With Kasanganay compromised, Yagshimuradov let his hands go, lighting up his opponent and making him wilt more and more with each crushing blow.

    Before long, Kasanganay hit the canvas and the referee had seen enough, calling for the stoppage less than a minute into the opening round.

    Official Result: Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Impa Kasanganay via TKO (strikes) at 0:58 of Round 1.

    Check out highlights from Impa Kasanganay vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov at the PFL World Championship: