One of the big questions for the PFL heading into 2025 is what will be next for the promotion's newest star, Dakota Ditcheva.
The 2024 PFL flyweight champion demolished the opposition in her first year in the regular season meaning that it's on the promotion to keep things fresh and exciting for her.
Competing in the season format for a second time is something that Ditcheva is open to but everyone knew that Taila Santos would be her toughest test in last year's bracket and she made that fight look easy in the finals.
The undefeated Brit spoke in a recent interview with MMA Fighting about what potential options she has with the PFL right now.
“Obviously, the merger with Bellator is perfect,” Ditcheva told MMA Fighting. “They definitely still have a talented group of flyweights for sure. So there’s definitely still going to be a few options that we can push our heads together and come up with. They are going to have to find [new talent]. I think again, being in a tournament, do people want to see me fight the same girls in the tournament again? Do they like the tournament format? I’m not sure.
“Would it be better of you to put me on a pay-per-view card and have me on a big fight and promote it like that? They promote me a lot during these tournaments. Could that work on a pay-per-view? I’m not sure. Maybe it could if you get me a big fight. If you put it in Manchester, put a few big names on it, things like that. There are so many options. PFL are quite good like that.”
The PFL had the same question mark hanging over Kayla Harrison for a long time.
Despite the promotion bringing new talent in for each season, Harrison ended up facing Larissa Pacheco in the finals on three occasions.
For Ditcheva, her main goal right now is progression so anything which feels like a step back from what she accomplished in 2024 isn't of interest to her.
“Kayla fighting Pacheco three times, was it necessary? I don’t know,” Ditcheva said. “But then again, everything for a reason, and look what she’s doing in the UFC now. That’s what I’m going to say about that. But for me, it’s never really been like, ‘Oh, I’m going to win it a second time.’ I’ve won it now. Give me another challenge that’s going to motivate me. But then again, if you put me in it, I’m going to take it serious. Every fight, I’ll be on it again. I don’t know. I think it’s difficult because I want to be fighting better and better every time. I want that competition all the time.
“That’s what I’ve done the last two years, which people don’t understand. I’ve gone through the Europe season, I went up and up and up. I won that, and then I stepped up and went to the global season, went up and up and up, just beat Santos. Now I’ve got to keep that movement going. I’m 26, I don’t want to sit where I am or I don’t want to go down. For me, it’s important that me and PFL come up with something to challenge me and that I keep progressing. That’s the main thing for me.”
Watch the full interview below:
