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In just one PFL season, Dakota Ditcheva has gone from an exciting prospect to an established top-five contender.
Entering her first PFL regular season, Manchester’s Ditcheva was by no means a newbie, as she finished 2023 by winning the PFL European Women’s Flyweight Championship. She has already caused quite a stir due to her growing highlight reel.
But bigger challenges lay ahead before PFL’s main trade fair in the USA. Former and current Bellator champions, former UFC title challengers and PFL’s own talent hoping for a $1 million tournament prize all stood in the way of Ditcheva proving herself as one of the best in the world.
Not only did Ditcheva pass every test put before her, she also destroyed her opponents and arguably became the face of the promotion. That’s why Ditcheva is MMA Junkies Fighter of the Year 2024.
Ditcheva’s season began on April 4 in the main card opener of PFL 1 2024 against Lisa Mauldin. The 26-year-old strike specialist was a big favorite according to oddsmakers, and she proved them right. Like a surgeon, Ditcheva tore her opponent apart with precise punches and kicks until Mauldin collapsed from a body shot 3:54 minutes into the first round.
The victory earned six points in the women’s flyweight rankings, bettered only by former UFC title challenger Taila Santos, and set the stage for what many expected to be the tournament’s championship fight.
Two months later, at 2024 PFL 4, Ditcheva broke away from the pack and cemented the No. 1 ranking. Another heavy favorite, Ditcheva took on Chelsea Hackett and her precise striking once again propelled her into the first round of the co-main event. Two fights have been canceled, two are still fighting for a $1 million payday.
With the playoffs the competition increases. Ditcheva’s semifinal playoff bout came against a dangerous grappler in Jena Bishop, who remained undefeated until a split decision loss to Santos in their second regular season bout. The oddsmakers acknowledged the progress since Ditcheva was no longer one of the astronomical favorites, but that didn’t matter.
Ditcheva knocked Bishop down barely four minutes into the fight and gave a lively post-fight interview. “We don’t make split decisions here,” Ditcheva said as she shot at Bishop and her team.
Although Ditcheva went through the PFL tournament with great enthusiasm, she faced criticism. “She’s just going to put herself on the conservative list now,” Ditcheva said, making fun not only of Bishop but also of the idea circulating online that all of her opponents are nobodies.
That would change in the finale. The PFL’s dream matchup became a reality. The 2024 PFL Championship was Ditcheva versus Santos.
At UFC 275, Santos challenged for the title from Valentina Shevchenko and fought her to a split decision, but only received a judge’s card. Many believed Santos won that fight, but the loss would set her on a path that would lead to her exit from the UFC following a unanimous decision loss to Erin Blanchfield.
Santos then made the jump to the PFL and immediately became one of the favorites to win the women’s flyweight tournament. It wasn’t a unanimous opinion, however, but those who didn’t name her the $1 million winner expected her floor to pose a formidable challenge to Ditcheva in the final.
The Brazilian kept her end of the bargain by submitting Ilara Joanne, winning a split decision over Bishop and defeating former Bellator champion Liz Carmouche by unanimous decision. She seemed as dangerous as ever. Now it was time for Ditcheva to prove that she could compete with a real top flyweight.
Once again, Ditcheva proved the naysayers wrong.
The only thing Santos could note is that she was the only fighter in 2024 to take Ditcheva to the second round, but the fight would end there. The long front kicks and body shots increased and eventually led to Santos’ collapse. Ditcheva did it; She became PFL champion by impressively stopping the former UFC title challenger.
In the inaugural USA TODAY SPORTS/MMA Junkie rankings of 2024, Ditcheva’s name was not included in the flyweight or women’s pound-for-pound lists. After her stellar run in 2024, Ditcheva rose up the rankings, finishing 5th and 13th at the end of the year.
The PFL season format is demanding. To win the $1 million prize, four fights must be won in eight months. Ditcheva made it look easy.
In a year in which no current female UFC champion appeared more than once (Zhang Weili, UFC 300; Shevchenko, UFC 306; Julianna Peña, UFC 307), Ditcheva’s activity coincided with her destroying more and more competition while also becoming the Face of a Major Due to her promotion, she deserves the Fighter of the Year award.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MMA Junkie’s 2024 Fighter of the Year: Dakota Ditcheva
