Dakota Ditcheva Explained

Dakota Ditcheva
Other Names:Dangerous
Birth Name:Dakota Lili-Joa Ditcheva
Birth Date:11 July 1998
Birth Place:Sale, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Weight Lb:125
Weight Class:Flyweight
Reach:70 in
Style:Muay Thai, Kickboxing
Fighting Out Of:Manchester, England
Team:Manchester Top Team
Relatives:Lisa Howarth (mother)
Years Active:2012–present
Kickbox Win:10
Kickbox Loss:1
Mma Kowin:11
Mma Subwin:1
Mma Decwin:1
Sherdog:320485

Dakota Lili-Joa Ditcheva (born 11 July 1998) is an English mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai competitor currently signed to the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where she competes in the Flyweight division.[1] [2] [3] [4] She was part of the British team at the 2016 International Federation of Muaythai Amateur World Championships in Jönköping, Sweden, winning gold.[5] She is an overall three-time world champion in the junior divisions[6] and Daily Mirror and Sport England Pride of Sports Young Sportsperson of the Year.[7] [8]

Background

Born on 11 July 1998, in Sale, Greater Manchester, England, Dakota Ditcheva grew up in a family of martial artists. Her father is Bulgarian, born in Samokov.[9] 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.[10] [11] [12]

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.[13]

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.[14] [15] [16]

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.[17]

As Dakota proved her worth, she faced more challenging opponents. At UKFC 17, she faced Patricia Borges, once again securing victory in the first round. Her performance caught the attention of international promotions, leading her to fight 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.[18]

Professional Fighters League

In July 2022, it was announced that Ditcheva had signed with PFL.[19]

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.[20] She won the bout in the first round, submitting Hermansson via rear-naked choke.[21]

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.[22]

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.[23]

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.[24]

Ditcheva faced Chelsea Hackett on June 13, 2024 at PFL 4.[25] She won the fight via body punch TKO in the first round.[26] [27]

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.[28] [29]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Muay Thai

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Win|align=center|13–0|Jena Bishop |TKO (front kick to the body and punch)|PFL 7 (2024)||align=center|1|align=center|3:54|Nashville, Tennessee, United States ||-|Win|align=center|12–0|Chelsea Hackett|TKO (punch to the body)|PFL 4 (2024)||align=center|1|align=center|3:22|Uncasville, Connecticut, United States||-|Win|align=center|11–0|Lisa Mauldin|TKO (knee to the body and punches)|PFL 1 (2024)||align=center|1|align=center|3:54|San Antonio, Texas, United States||-|Win|align=center|10–0|Valentina Scatizzi|TKO (doctor stoppage)|PFL Europe 4 (2023)||align=center|1|align=center|5:00|Dublin, Ireland||-|Win|align=center|9–0|Cornelia Holm|KO (punch to the body)|PFL Europe 3 (2023)||align=center|3|align=center|2:55|Paris, France||-|Win|align=center|8–0|Malin Hermansson |Submission (rear-naked choke)|PFL Europe 1 (2023)||align=center|1|align=center|3:52|Newcastle, England||-|Win|align=center| 7–0|Katherine Corogenes|KO (punch)|PFL 10 (2022)||align=center|1|align=center|4:20|New York City, New York, United States||-|Win|align=center| 6–0|Hassna Gaber|TKO (submission to knee to the body)|PFL 9 (2022)||align=center| 1|align=center|0:58|London, England||-|Win|align=center|5–0|Paula Cristina|Decision (unanimous)|UAE Warriors 28||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates||-|Win|align=center|4–0|Simone da Silva |TKO (punches)|PAWFC 1||align=center|2|align=center|3:43|Calgary, Alberta, Canada||-|Win|align=center|3–0|Patricia Borges|TKO (elbows)|UK Fighting Championships 17||align=center|1|align=center|3:58|Preston, England||-|Win|align=center|2–0|Kerry Isom|TKO (punches)|Celtic Gladiator 30||align=center|1|align=center|4:49|Blackburn, England||-|Win|align=center|1–0|Jenny Line|TKO (elbows and knees)|Caged Steel 25||align=center|1|align=center|2:04|Sheffield, England|[30]

Muay Thai record

|- style="background:#fbb;"| 2017-03-25 || Loss ||align=left| Amy Pirnie || Yokkao 23 & 24 || Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom || Decision || 5 || 3:00 |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2017-02-12 || Win ||align=left| Kat Paton || Tanko Muay Thai League 1 || Manchester, England, United Kingdom || TKO || 1 || 2:00 |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2016-06-25 || Win ||align=left| Katia Pinto || Machines on Fire || St Helens, England, United Kingdom || Decision || 5 || 3:00 |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2016-05-14 || Win ||align=left| Emma Bragg || The Tanko Main Event || Bolton, England, United Kingdom || TKO || 2 || |-! style=background:white colspan=8 ||- style="background:#cfc;"| 2016-03-19 || Win ||align=left| Maria Becerra || Yokkao 17 & 18 || Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom || TKO || 1 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2015-11-21 || Win ||align=left| Myriame Djedidi || The Road to the Main Event || Ashton-under-Lyne, England, United Kingdom || Decision || 5 || 2:00 |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2015-04-24 || Win ||align=left| Hongfah Kor. Jalanfak || Bangla Stadium || Phuket, Thailand || TKO (knee) || 1 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2015-03-21 || Win ||align=left| Sophie Lowe || Yokkao 12 & Yokkao 13 || England, United Kingdom || TKO (referee stoppage) || || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2014-11-22 || Win ||align=left| Jennifer Gallagher || The Road to the Main Event || Ashton-under-Lyne, England, United Kingdom || Decision || 5 || 1:30 |- style="background:#cfc;"| 2014-11-01 || Win ||align=left| Cory McKenna || 2 Raw 2 Ready || Manchester, England, United Kingdom || Decision || 5 || 2:00 |-| colspan=8 | Legend:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dakota Ditcheva: #ThisIsMe. 29 March 2016. www.bbc.com. BBC. 2016-07-30. 9 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170309145247/http://www.bbc.com/sport/bodypositive/35916626. dead.
  2. Web site: How To Harness The Winning Mindset Of An Athlete. Elle UK. 2 September 2016. 27 April 2016.
  3. Web site: Dakota claims British title. Messenger Newspapers. 15 July 2016 . 2016-07-30.
  4. News: 4 June 2015. Trafford College student aims for glory . Messenger . 26 August 2016.
  5. News: Teen Muai Thai sensation Dakota Ditcheva wins gold in the World Championships. Manchester Evening News. 2016-06-04. 2016-07-30.
  6. News: Is this the next Ronda Rousey?. Myall. Steve. Daily Mirror. 2015-12-30. 2016-07-30.
  7. Web site: Pride of Sport Awards: the winners . 26 November 2015 . www.sportengland.org . Sport England . 25 August 2016.
  8. Web site: Muaythai athlete named "Young Sportsperson of the Year". www.ifmamuaythai.org. 2016-09-02.
  9. MMA star Dakota Ditcheva: I am half-Bulgarian . YouTube . April 6, 2024 . The Jungle of Sports . July 1, 2023.
  10. Web site: Meet our Fighters: Dakota Ditcheva PAWFC . 2023-03-21 . pawfc.com . en-GB . 23 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230923132334/https://pawfc.com/news/details/meet-our-fighters-dakota-ditcheva.html . dead .
  11. Web site: Davies . Harry . 2022-10-26 . PFL star Dakota Ditcheva inspired by surge of women's sport in UK . 2023-03-21 . mirror . en.
  12. Web site: Sale Muay Thai star becomes British champion in a night of Muay Thai drama . 2023-03-21 . Messenger Newspapers . 20 May 2016 . en.
  13. Web site: IFMA World Championships 2016 Jonkoping, Sweden 19-29 May Official Results . 2024-01-22 . muaythai.lt.
  14. MMA star Dakota Ditcheva: I am half-Bulgarian . YouTube . April 6, 2024 . The Jungle of Sports . July 1, 2023.
  15. Web site: The MMA sensation Dakota Ditcheva: I am half Bulgarian . 2024-01-22 . boec.com. 3 July 2023 .
  16. Web site: Dakota Ditcheva on trash talking, spending $100k and taking PFL Europe to Bulgaria . 2024-01-22 . www.planetsport.com. 30 September 2023 .
  17. Web site: Hart . Lewis . 2022-11-24 . Dakota Ditcheva: A Star in the Making . 2023-03-21 . Combat Sports UK . en-gb.
  18. Web site: 2022-11-29 . Across The Pond Profile: PFL MMA fighter Dakota Ditcheva . 2023-03-21 . mmauk.net . en-GB.
  19. News: US promotion PFL signs British prospect Ditcheva . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-03-21.
  20. Web site: Daly . Rhys . 2023-03-07 . Dakota Ditcheva gets new PFL Europe opponent in quest for £80,000 payday . 2023-03-21 . Dailystar.co.uk . en.
  21. News: Ditcheva dominates on PFL Europe debut . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-03-26.
  22. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2023-09-30 . Dakota Ditcheva Punches Her Way Into Flyweight Final, Stops Cornelia Holm at PFL Paris . 2023-10-08 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  23. Web site: 2023-12-08 . 2023 PFL Europe 4 video: Bulging eye injury causes halt to Dakota Ditcheva vs. Valentina Scatizzi . 2024-01-03 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  24. Web site: Dewar . Val . 2024-04-05 . PFL 1: Undefeated Dakota Ditcheva Mauls Lisa Mauldin, Finishes via Body Shots . 2024-04-05 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  25. Web site: 2024-04-22 . Valentin Moldavsky vs. Linton Vassell headlines 2024 PFL 4 at Mohegan Sun . 2024-04-22 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  26. Web site: 14 Jun 2024 . Dakota Ditcheva extends unbeaten record with latest KO win. 14 Jun 2024 . mirror.co.uk . en.
  27. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2024-06-14 . Dakota Ditcheva Stops Chelsea Hackett with Body Shot at PFL 4 . 2024-08-04 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  28. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2024-08-03 . Dakota Ditcheva Wrecks Jena Bishop in Women's Flyweight Semifinal at PFL Nashville . 2024-08-05 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  29. Web site: Unstoppable Ditcheva reaches $1m PFL final. BBC Sport. 3 August 2024.
  30. Web site: Dakota Ditcheva. Sherdog. 15 August 2022. en.

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