‘Dangerous’ Dakota Ditcheva is relishing the chance to prove she is the real deal, as she prepares to enter the 2024 PFL Regular Season.
The 25-year-old will make her first walk in the PFL Regular Season on April 4, on the back of a massively successful 2023 which saw ‘Dangerous’ crowned as the 2023 PFL Europe Women’s Flyweight Champion.
Previewing the season, Ditcheva admitted that she feels the upcoming tournament will differ from anything she experienced during the European tournament but her goals remain the same, to be crowned the PFL champion. She said:
“This journey, 2024, is going to be a little bit crazier than last year, I think. Yeah, I wasn't satisfied with the PFL European belt and that's why I'm here this year now to keep that going. That journey hasn't finished. That European is just another step. I still have the same emotions, the same feelings, and still want to win. Still excited to get in there and show people what I'm about.”
PFL have invested heavily in promoting Ditcheva and after securing the 2023 European Championship, the ‘Dangerous’ believes that she will be one of the main targets for the other competitors in this years championship. She said:
“I feel like I am going to be one of the main targets this year. Coming in with an undefeated record, I have just won the European title. I am a young prospect; a lot of people are talking about me so I think the girls will have their eye on me just as much as I will have my eye on some of them. I think my killer instinct, they all need to be ready.”
The tournament format is naturally extremely taxing for those who advance from round to round, but as Ditcheva discussed, the mental aspect of constantly being in camp also takes its toll.
“When I done the Europe season last year, it has kind of given me a little bit of a feel for what this one is going to be like. I think it's one of the most mentally testing things that you can do as a fighter. You've got to win to go through and you got to win each fight to get to the top. Points are going to be involved and you know you're going to have to get stoppages to get higher up in the table, which will suit me quite well.”
However, Ditcheva prides herself on her mental fortitude and with a 90% finish rate, the possibility of a finish at some point during the tournament could prove to be very likely. Even at 10-0, the Sale native will not be phased by whoever she may need to face in the tournament, irrespective of their credentials.
“I think my killer instinct, they all need to be ready. It doesn’t matter who these girls are, how long they have been in the sport, what titles they have already got, I’ll be ready to fight when they step in the cage with me so they need to be ready.”
In her first bout, of the 2024 Regular Season, the unbeaten prospect will face 6-3 Lisa Mauldin. The Women’s Flyweight tournament is stacked with talent, with the likes of Liz Carmouche, Talia Santos and Kana Watanabe all also competing for the 2024 crown and one-million-dollar prize money.
You can watch the full Fight Camp confidential below:
