Dakota Dycheba’s name was on many people’s radar coming into the 2024 Professional Fighters League Global season, but she’s still growing and ready to capitalize on this opportunity. The 2023 PFL Europe Champion made her presence known in her first year on the PFL Global roster, leading the way as the top seed in the 2024 women’s flyweight season.
Ditcheva did her job during the regular season, leading the team with two first-round appearances and 12 total points, while becoming a must-watch player on TV. Heading into the 2024 playoffs, Ditcheva will face Jenna Bishop and believes her experience in PFL Europe will prepare her for that moment.
Speaking to media ahead of the PFL 7: 2024 Playoffs in Nashville, Tennessee, Ditcheba told Sherdog she believes her experience in PFL Europe in 2023 has helped her prepare for the tough 2024 global season.
“I definitely feel like I’m more prepared. Plus, I’ve been in the co-main events here for so long, this is my second co-main event. There’s a lot of pressure and the media is a lot of work. Last year I was prepared for a bigger crowd and the media, and this year I’ve been preparing a little bit more each time. I think it’s definitely helped a little bit.”
In 2024, PFL will further expand its international league, launching PFL MENA with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa region, and also announced the launch of PFL Africa, which will debut in 2025. Using his own experience as a prime example, Dicheba believes the PFL will be able to dominate these regional markets, discovering and showcasing more young, promising talent to the world, eventually earning them a place on a global roster.
“I think it’s fantastic. They’ve really filled the European market, which I felt was missing a lot of shows, so I’m sure they’ll do that with other shows too.” [leagues] now.”
There is no better example of the PFL system and development opportunities than Ditcheva, who in one year went from beloved European fighter to European champion and is now two wins away from the 2024 PFL Women’s Flyweight Championship.
