Things seem to be moving fast for Dakota Dycheva.
Just months after winning the Professional Fighters League Europe title, the British flyweight prospect will face Chelsea Hackett in the co-main event of PFL4 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on June 13. Ditcheva opened her 2024 campaign with a first-round knockout of Lisa Mauldin at PFL1, a performance that earned her six points in the regular season standings.
The Manchester Top Team product has an 11-0 record in her professional development and has already been treated as a star by the PFL – a testament to the high expectations for her future. Ditcheva is grateful for the support, pointing to the enthusiasm of her fans and her performance on fight day as a driving force.
“It means a lot. I mean, it’s probably every fighter’s dream to have an organization like this behind me,” Ditcheva said on a recent media conference call, “so I’m very fortunate to have the support that’s behind me.”
“I think the fans have helped me too, because on the last card there were a lot of comments like: ‘Why is she on the undercard?’… This time they put me in the co-main, which of course helps. But at the same time, I deliver exciting fights. I’m always positive and I give my best on the night, so I feel I deserve it and we work well together. If I perform well, the PFL supports me.”
Ditcheva will have another chance to prove herself against Hackett, a former Muay Thai champion from Australia who was recently defeated by submission by Jenna Bishop at PFL 1.
“Yes, it will be a very exciting match between strikers,” Dycheva said. “Even though we lost, it’s a match she wanted. She mentioned my name a lot and commented on posts inviting me, so it’s a match she wanted too. [her]
Please join in and put up a good fight.”
With a PFL flyweight roster that includes Bellator champion Liz Carmouche and former UFC title challenger Tayra Santos, it’s understandable that Dicheva would prefer a bigger-name opponent, but that opportunity may come later if she fares well and makes it into the postseason.
“Yes. [one of those] “It would have been a great game but Chelsea are not to be missed,” Dycheva said. “You can’t pick your games and we knew going into this tournament this season that it was going to save them. [for] “The next stage will see even more excitement and even more people watching. So, yeah, you know, that match could still take place.”
While Ditcheva’s profile is still growing, it hasn’t necessarily translated into opportunities outside the cage. For now, she’s mostly benefiting from the PFL’s backing, but she knows winning bouts will open even more doors.
“The PFL has given me the most opportunities and the connections they have and the way they look after their fighters have really been beneficial to me,” she said. “I think outside of the organization it’s still pretty hard to get sponsor support.”
“So I think I’m at that intermediate stage right now where people know me, I have a good name and I can represent the brand well, but at the same time, I’m not there yet. So I’m just going to have to be patient and be grateful for the opportunity that PFL is giving me.”
