Coming into the 2024 Professional Fighters League Global Season, Dakota Ditcheva was a name many had heard about, but she still was improving and came in ready to capitalize on the opportunity. The 2023 PFL Europe champ has made a statement in her first year on the PFL’s Global roster and led the charge as the top seed in the 2024 women’s flyweight season.
Leading the way with two first-round finishes and a total of 12 points in the regular season, Ditcheva handled business while becoming appointment-viewing television. Heading into the 2024 Playoffs, Ditcheva will take on Jena Bishop and believes her experience in PFL Europe has made her ready for the moment.
Talking with the media ahead of PFL 7: 2024 Playoffs in Nashville, Tennessee, Ditcheva told Sherdog that she believes her experience in PFL Europe back in 2023 has helped her prepare for the rigorous 2024 Global season.
“Definitely, I think it prepared me. As well, they keep putting me in co-main event here so this is the second co-main event. There’s a lot of pressure, a lot of media to do. Last year prepared me for the bigger crowd and more media, and this year has kind of just kept going bit-by-bit a little bit each time. It definitely helped a little bit for sure.”
In 2024, PFL launched PFL MENA, which focuses on the Middle East and North Africa region as it further expands its international leagues, and also announced the launch of PFL Africa, which will debut in 2025. Using her own experiences as a prime example, Ditcheva believes the PFL will corner the market in these regions and find more young and upcoming talent to showcase to the world, which could eventually lead to them being part of the global roster.
“I think it’s amazing, they really capped a market in Europe that I feel a lot of shows were missing, so I’m sure they will do that with the other [leagues] now.”
There’s no better example for the PFL’s system and growth opportunities than Ditcheva, who in one calendar year has gone from a beloved fighter in Europe to the European champ, and now just two wins away from the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight crown.
