Dakota Ditcheva facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dakota Ditcheva |
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|---|---|
| Born | Dakota Lili-Joa Ditcheva 11 July 1998 Sale, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom |
| Other names | Dangerous |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb) |
| Division | Flyweight |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) |
| Style | Muay Thai |
| Fighting out of | Manchester, England |
| Team | Manchester Top Team |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 11 |
| Wins | 10 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 10 |
| Wins | 10 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Other information | |
| Notable relatives | Lisa Howarth (mother) |
Dakota Lili-Joa Ditcheva (born 11 July 1998) is an English mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai champion currently signed to the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where she competes in the Flyweight division. She was part of the British team that won International Federation of Muaythai Amateur World Championships in Jönköping, Sweden. She is a three-time world champion and Daily Mirror and Sport England Pride of Sports Young Sportsperson of the Year.
Contents
Early life
Born on 11 July 1998, in Sale, Greater Manchester, England, Dakota Ditcheva grew up in a family of martial artists. Her mother, Lisa Howarth, a multiple-time world kickboxing champion, had a profound influence on Dakota's interest in combat sports. Immersed in this environment from a young age, Dakota began her training in various martial arts disciplines, including kickboxing, Muay Thai, and later, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Before transitioning to professional mixed martial arts (MMA), Dakota built an impressive amateur career. She amassed a stellar record as a kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter, winning numerous championships in both disciplines. Her dedication and determination led her to represent Great Britain at the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) World Championships, where she earned a silver medal.
Dakota is an avid supporter of football club Manchester City.
Mixed martial arts career
In April 2021, Dakota swiftly secured a first-round stoppage victory over fellow debutant Jenny Line at Cage Steel 25. Her second fight at Celtic Gladiator 30, five months later, saw a similar outcome, as she defeated Kerry Isom with a first-round TKO.
As Dakota proved her worth, she faced more challenging opponents. At UKFC 17, she overcame a 4-5 Patricia Borges, once again securing victory in the first round. Her performance caught the attention of international promotions, leading her to fight at PAWFC 1 in Canada. There, she co-headlined the event against an 8-3 Simone da Silva, finishing the fight in the second round with powerful ground strikes.
Dakota then headed to UAE Warriors 28, where her undefeated 4-0 record was put to the test. Facing another rising star, the 5-0 Paula Cristina, she remained composed and secured a unanimous decision victory.
Professional Fighters League
In July 2022, it was announced that Ditcheva had signed with PFL.
During her PFL MMA debut at PFL 9 in London, Ditcheva overcame Hassana Gaber with a first-round TKO. At the PFL 10 preliminary card, she achieved a first-round knockout against Katherine Corogenes, marking her sixth knockout win in her professional career.
Ditcheva faced Malin Hermansson in the inaugural PFL Europe season on March 25, 2023 at PFL Europe 1. She won the bout in the first round, submitting Hermansson via rear-naked choke.
Ditcheva faced Cornelia Holm in the semifinals at PFL Europe 3 on September 30, 2023, defeating Holm via body punch KO in the third round.
In the finals, Ditcheva faced Valentina Scatizzi at PFL Europe 4 on December 8, 2023. She won the fight via TKO between the first and second rounds after the cageside doctor determined Scatizzi's eye was too swollen to continue.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Professional Fighters League
- 2023 PFL Europe Women's Flyweight Championship
Muay Thai
- International Sport Kickboxing Association
- 2016 ISKA Muay Thai British Super Atomweight (-50.5 kg) Championship
- International Federation of Muaythai Associations
- 2016 IFMA World Muaythai Championships in Jönköping, Sweden
Female Junior -57 kg
- 2016 IFMA World Muaythai Championships in Jönköping, Sweden
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 10 matches | 10 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 10–0 | Valentina Scatizzi | TKO (doctor stoppage) | PFL Europe 4 | December 8, 2023 | 1 | 5:00 | Dublin, Ireland | Won the 2023 PFL Europe Women's Flyweight Tournament. |
| Win | 9–0 | Cornelia Holm | KO (punch to the body) | PFL Europe 3 | September 30, 2023 | 3 | 2:55 | Paris, France | 2023 PFL Europe Women's Flyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 8–0 | Malin Hermansson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PFL Europe 1 | March 25, 2023 | 1 | 3:52 | Newcastle, England | 2023 PFL Europe Women's Flyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 7–0 | Katherine Corogenes | KO (punch) | PFL 10 | November 25, 2022 | 1 | 4:20 | New York City, New York, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Hassna Gaber | TKO (submission to knee to the body) | PFL 9 | August 20, 2022 | 1 | 0:58 | London, England | |
| Win | 5–0 | Paula Cristina | Decision (unanimous) | UAE Warriors 28 | March 26, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 4–0 | Simone da Silva | TKO (punches) | PAWFC 1 | January 15, 2022 | 2 | 3:43 | Calgary, Canada | |
| Win | 3–0 | Patricia Borges | TKO (elbows) | UK Fighting Championships 17 | November 27, 2021 | 1 | 3:58 | Preston, England | Catchweight (130 lb) bout. |
| Win | 2–0 | Kerry Isom | TKO (punches) | Celtic Gladiator 30 | September 12, 2021 | 1 | 4:49 | Blackburn, England | Catchweight (132 lb) bout. |
| Win | 1–0 | Jenny Line | TKO (elbows and knees) | Caged Steel 25 | April 10, 2021 | 1 | 2:04 | Sheffield, England | Bantamweight debut. |
Muay Thai record
| 10 Wins , 1 Loss | |||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-03-25 | Loss |  Amy Pirnie |
Yokkao 23 & 24 | Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom | Decision | 5 | 3:00 |
| 2017-02-12 | Win | Kat Paton |
Tanko Muay Thai League 1 | Manchester, England, United Kingdom | TKO | 1 | 2:00 |
| 2016-06-25 | Win |  Katia Pinto |
Machines on Fire | St Helens, England, United Kingdom | Decision | 5 | 3:00 |
| 2016-05-14 | Win |  Emma Bragg |
The Tanko Main Event | Bolton, England, United Kingdom | TKO | 2 | |
| Wins the ISKA Muay Thai British 51kg Championship. | |||||||
| 2016-03-19 | Win |  Maria Becerra |
Yokkao 17 & 18 | Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom | TKO | 1 | |
| 2015-11-21 | Win |  Myriame Djedidi |
The Road to the Main Event | Ashton-under-Lyne, England, United Kingdom | Decision | 5 | 2:00 |
| 2015-04-24 | Win |  Hongfah Kor. Jalanfak |
Bangla Stadium | Phuket, Thailand | TKO (knee) | 1 | |
| 2015-03-21 | Win |  Sophie Lowe |
Yokkao 12 & Yokkao 13 | England, United Kingdom | TKO (referee stoppage) | ||
| 2014-11-22 | Win | Jennifer Gallagher |
The Road to the Main Event | Ashton-under-Lyne, England, United Kingdom | Decision | 5 | 1:30 |
| 2014-11-01 | Win |  Cory McKenna |
2 Raw 2 Ready | Manchester, England, United Kingdom | Decision | 5 | 2:00 |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | |||||||
See also
- List of female mixed martial artists
- List of current PFL fighters
