Dakota Ditcheva’s latest comeback has been cut short by another serious injury setback, with the British standout revealing that she broke both hands during her recent victory over Denise Kielholtz.
Ditcheva (16-0) returned to competitive action at PFL New York just over a week ago, earning a unanimous decision victory over Kielholtz (9-6) after three rounds. The fight marked a long-awaited return for Ditcheva, who had competed only once since November 2024 after previously suffering fractures to both hands.
Despite the injuries, Ditcheva managed to complete the fight and outpoint Kielholtz. However, the 27-year-old revealed in a video posted to her YouTube channel Sunday that she suffered fractures to both hands once again and is facing another period on the sidelines.
“Breaking news! I am injured again,” Ditcheva said. “I broke my hands in the fight. I could feel it from the second I started the second round. I didn't tell my corner. I didn't tell anybody. I didn't show it this time.”
Ditcheva explained that she kept the extent of the injury to herself throughout the fight, only telling one person inside the cage.
“And I didn't actually tell anybody until I got out of the cage,” she said. “The only one I did tell, actually, was my cut man, Paul. He's, like, my bestie. And he looks after me, but I did whisper that to him that I felt like I'd broken my hands.”
The latest setback is particularly frustrating for Ditcheva, who had already endured a lengthy period away from competition because of injuries to her hands. Her win over Kielholtz appeared to mark an important step toward rebuilding momentum, only for another pair of fractures to derail her return once again.
Ditcheva has yet to announce a specific timeline for her recovery or when she expects to return to competition.
