The 2024 PFL World Championships crowned six new titleholders but make no mistake about it, one star shone brightest in Riyadh.
Dakota Ditcheva remained undefeated and became the flyweight champion after becoming the first woman to finish Taila Santos in the co-main event of the night.
In her toughest test to date, the rising star proved that she is world class by dominating an opponent that many expected would be able to pose her some questions that she hasn't been asked before.
Instead, it was one-way traffic as Ditcheva was leagues ahead in the striking and was able to stop the takedowns from the former UFC title challenger.
In her post-fight interview with Dan Hardy, she said that even a performance like this won't totally silence the doubters but that doesn't bother her one bit:
"I mean, I've been telling yous. I was trying to tell yous but... maybe, I'm sure they'll still be moaning about me but I'll just keep proving them wrong."
As Hardy himself said, Ditcheva is proof of the PFL's system working perfectly after she went from PFL Europe champion to PFL world champion.
After being dominant throughout the season and completely dismantling the bracket's other best fighter, coming up with exciting plans for her going forward won't be easy for the promotion.
"I don't know, the world is mine. I don't know, we'll have to sit together with the PFL and see what we can come up with but I just beat the best girl that's out there out of any other division so I don't know but I'm sure me and PFL will come out with something amazing again."
As well as calling for a PFL event in Manchester and giving her brother lots of credit for the hard work that he has put in throughout her career, Ditcheva delivered the night's best line to prove once again that she can rock the cage and the mic.
"I mean she's a tough girl but I knew what I was capable of, I've worked so hard, my team knew what I was capable of. Right from the beginning of this season, if I had got her in the first round, I would have done the same thing and they've been talking. She's been saying, 'She's just a barbie, she should be a model.' Well a model just beat your a** in round two so shut up."
Watch the full interview below:
