Dakota Ditcheva in UFC? Brit makes career admission after claiming $100k PFL Europe championship

The new women’s flyweight champion defeated Valentina Scatizzi in Friday’s championship final over in Dublin.

Ditcheva connected with a number of stinging strikes, forcing swelling on the left eye of her Italian opponent. The fight was ultimately stopped on doctor’s advice after the first round.

The 25-year-old not only claimed her European belt but also bagged a $100k cheque. She is now 10-0, with nine of her victories coming before the final bell.

This was Ditcheva’s fifth fight for the PFL as the organisation continues to push the promising flyweight.

When asked about her future during her post-fight press conference, Ditcheva said: “I signed two year [contract] with the PFL, it ends in August. Obviously now I’m the champion, I think it will extend.

“I don’t know, I leave the contract side to everyone else. As long as I get three fights a year, I don’t care if I’m with the PFL or Bellator.”

When asked about the possibility of a UFC switch, she added: “No UFC allowed. PFL. The journey is not finished.

“We need to go to the world’s first. This [European] belt hasn’t satisfied me. As happy as I am to have it, it’s a European belt. That’s not good enough for me. I need the global one. Hopefully, they’re going to do a tournament.”

The PFL could throw Ditcheva back in the European tournament next year and allow the Brit to defend her European crown.

The organisation’s global roster didn’t run a women’s flyweight division in 2023. Instead, it was the featherweights who took the spotlight as Brazil’s Larissa Pacheco won the $1m dollar prize.

A one-off option for the Brit in 2024 could be a potential showcase bout with Amanda Serrano who has been signed to the PFL’s Super Fight roster. The legendary boxer fought two of her three MMA fights as a flyweight.