Dakota Ditcheva didn’t get right here accidentally.
With an ideal 13-0 file together with three straight knockouts to earn her option to the 2024 PFL Championships on Friday, the 25-year-old flyweight from England may simply be the following massive factor however that appears to rub some individuals the mistaken means. Whereas her rise to stardom has been quick, Ditcheva is aware of she put within the work and gained the fights to get right here even when a few of her fellow athletes don’t appear all that glad for her.
“There’s positively a bit little bit of jealousy I believe and a little bit of frustration from a number of fighters,” Ditcheva informed MMA Combating. “I get it. Such as you stated, it’s a enterprise. We’ve got to have the ability to promote these fights as a way to receives a commission. If you wish to receives a commission, do one thing. Make your fights thrilling or get on social media and make an effort. You must. The people who had been mad at these fighters, sure fighters being profitable, however in case you take a look at those being profitable, it’s the personalities within the sport. Or the fighters which are doing one thing totally different.
“I don’t know why anyone is getting pissed off simply with me. As a result of I’m similar to getting what I can out of my years on this sport and I really feel like that may be the intelligent factor to do.”
Maybe one of many largest knocks on Ditcheva throughout the present PFL season was the notion that she was being arrange with winnable fights that may permit her to advance to the finals underneath simpler circumstances than a few of her potential opponents.
Essentially the most notable grievance got here when the playoffs started with Ditcheva drawing Jena Bishop within the semifinals relatively than a extra skilled opponent like UFC veteran Taila Santos or Bellator champion Liz Carmouche. As a substitute, Santos ended up beating Carmouche in a hard-fought resolution whereas Ditcheva demolished Bishop inside the primary spherical.
In fact, Ditcheva has no management over the opponents she faces as a result of that call falls to the PFL however even because the playoffs bought began, that’s all decided by level totals within the common season.
On Friday, Ditcheva may lastly be capable to silence at the least a few of her critics because of the finals coming all the way down to her and Santos however she knew there have been no ensures as a result of that’s simply how unstable a PFL season could be.
“You’ll be able to’t predict it and to be trustworthy, I wouldn’t say I used to be glad about it,” Ditcheva defined. “I used to be anticipating something. You don’t know. Jena [Bishop], she misplaced and nonetheless positioned prime 4. You don’t know what’s going to occur so that you’ve bought to be prepared for something.
“I bought loads of stink for me dealing with Jena as a result of Taila and Liz went collectively however that’s simply the way in which the event performs out. It’s not in anybody’s fingers. It labored out good as a result of I really feel like that is in all probability top-of-the-line fights that might have occurred for the ultimate.”
Ditcheva additionally believes breaking via the language barrier in terms of the U.S. viewers makes an enormous distinction in terms of connecting with followers.
“I really feel actually fortunate that I converse English,” Ditcheva stated. “You want to have the ability to converse English on this trade and in case you don’t, you get left behind a bit bit. Nobody desires to learn subtitles. That’s one other factor. I hate to say that as a result of I really feel like I’m a bit spoiled that I do converse English and it is a bonus for me however it’s simply the way in which the enterprise goes.
“It’s not one thing I’ve chosen. It’s simply the way in which issues work. It goes over my head when individuals moan about it and I simply stick with it getting what I can out of it.”
As a lot consideration as Ditcheva receives — each optimistic and detrimental — she’s adamant that none of it actually issues if she’s not successful her fights.
She is aware of there’s no reputation or star energy if she’s dropping and so far in her profession Ditcheva has been practically untouchable.
“Nobody can be bothered if I couldn’t combat, proper?” Ditcheva stated. “That all the time has to return first. As a lot because the cameras and the eye that I get, I nonetheless perceive that my full focus has bought to be the preventing as a result of that’s what comes first.”
In relation to the Santos combat, Ditcheva is getting ready for the worst however anticipating the most effective out of herself but once more even with the step up in competitors.
Ditcheva guarantees she’s all the time able to go to battle however so far all of her opponents have been utterly outgunned. She will’t predict if Santos goes to be any harder or not however she’s prepared for each doable situation to assert the PFL title and the $1 million prize that comes together with it.
“She’s an excellent fighter,” Ditcheva stated about Santos. “I respect her rather a lot. She was a fighter I watched within the UFC. I understand how powerful she is. I do know she’s a harmful particular person. I all the time thought her hanging was superb there. I do know who I’m up in opposition to however on the identical time, I don’t really feel like I’m not displaying something she confirmed. I really feel prefer it’s going to be an excellent combat and I’m excited for it for certain.
“I do know what I’m able to. Positively [it could be another finish] and that’s what I’ll make occur if the chance’s there on the time, I’ll make certain I take the end 100%. I’m prepared for a five-round combat. I practice for that each time however I’m not the kind of fighter to go in there and be glad with a five-round combat.”
