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.
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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.