Dakota Ditcheva didn’t get right here accidentally.
With an ideal 13-0 document together with three straight knockouts to earn her method to the 2024 PFL Championships on Friday, the 25-year-old flyweight from England would possibly simply be the following massive factor however that appears to rub some folks the improper manner. Whereas her rise to stardom has been quick, Ditcheva is aware of she put within the work and received the fights to get right here even when a few of her fellow athletes don’t appear all that comfortable for her.
“There’s undoubtedly a little bit little bit of jealousy I feel and a little bit of frustration from a couple of fighters,” Ditcheva informed MMA Preventing. “I get it. Such as you stated, it’s a enterprise. We’ve to have the ability to promote these fights to be able 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 need to. The folks that have been mad at these fighters, sure fighters earning money, however if you happen to have a look at those earning money, 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 annoyed 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 might be the intelligent factor to do.”
Maybe one of many largest knocks on Ditcheva through the present PFL season was the notion that she was being arrange with winnable fights that might permit her to advance to the finals underneath simpler circumstances than a few of her potential opponents.
Probably the most notable criticism 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 determination 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 would possibly lastly be capable to silence a minimum of a few of her critics due to the finals coming right 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 will be.
“You possibly can’t predict it and to be trustworthy, I wouldn’t say I used to be comfortable about it,” Ditcheva defined. “I used to be anticipating something. You don’t know. Jena [Bishop], she misplaced and nonetheless positioned high 4. You don’t know what’s going to occur so that you’ve bought to be prepared for something.
“I bought quite a lot of stink for me going through Jena as a result of Taila and Liz went collectively however that’s simply the best way the event performs out. It’s not in anybody’s palms. It labored out good as a result of I really feel like that is in all probability probably the greatest fights that might have occurred for the ultimate.”
Ditcheva additionally believes breaking by the language barrier in relation to the U.S. viewers makes an enormous distinction in relation to 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 if you happen to don’t, you get left behind a little 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 nevertheless it’s simply the best way the enterprise goes.
“It’s not one thing I’ve chosen. It’s simply the best way issues work. It goes over my head when folks moan about it and I simply stick with it getting what I can out of it.”
As a lot consideration as Ditcheva receives — each constructive and destructive — she’s adamant that none of it actually issues if she’s not successful her fights.
She is aware of there’s no recognition or star energy if she’s shedding and to date in her profession Ditcheva has been almost untouchable.
“Nobody could be bothered if I couldn’t struggle, proper?” Ditcheva stated. “That all the time has to come back 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 the case of the Santos struggle, Ditcheva is getting ready for the worst however anticipating one of the best 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 to date all of her opponents have been fully outgunned. She will’t predict if Santos goes to be any harder or not however she’s prepared for each doable situation to say 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 loads. She was a fighter I watched within the UFC. I understand how robust she is. I do know she’s a harmful individual. I all the time thought her putting was superb there. I do know who I’m up towards however on the similar time, I don’t really feel like I’m not exhibiting something she confirmed. I really feel prefer it’s going to be an excellent struggle and I’m excited for it for positive.
“I do know what I’m able to. Undoubtedly [it could be another finish] and that’s what I’ll make occur if the chance’s there on the time, I’ll be sure that I take the end one hundred pc. I’m prepared for a five-round struggle. I prepare for that each time however I’m not the kind of fighter to go in there and be glad with a five-round struggle.”
