Dakota Ditcheva facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dakota Ditcheva |
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| Born | Dakota Lili-Joa Ditcheva 25 July 1998 Sale, Greater Manchester, England |
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| Other names | Dangerous | |||||||||||||
| Nationality |
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| 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, Kickboxing | |||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | Manchester, England | |||||||||||||
| Team | Manchester Top Team American Top Team |
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| Years active | 2012–present | |||||||||||||
| Kickboxing record | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 11 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 10 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 15 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 15 | |||||||||||||
| By knockout | 12 | |||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | |||||||||||||
| By decision | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||
| Notable relatives | Lisa Howarth (mother) | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Dakota Lili-Joa Ditcheva, born on July 25, 1998, is a talented British mixed martial artist. She used to be a Muay Thai fighter. Currently, she competes in the Flyweight division for the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Dakota was part of the British team that won a gold medal at the 2016 International Federation of Muaythai Amateur World Championships in Sweden. She has won three world championships in junior divisions. She was also named the Daily Mirror and Sport England Pride of Sports Young Sportsperson of the Year.
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About Dakota's Early Life
Dakota Ditcheva was born in Sale, Greater Manchester, England. She grew up in a family where martial arts were very important. Her father, Ivo Ditchev, is from Bulgaria. Her mother, Lisa Howarth, was a world champion in kickboxing many times.
Because of her family, Dakota started training in different martial arts when she was very young. She learned kickboxing, Muay Thai, and later, Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Before becoming a professional mixed martial artist, Dakota competed in kickboxing and Muay Thai. She won championships in both sports. In May 2016, she won a gold medal for Great Britain at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) World Championships. She competed in the female junior 57 kg division.
Dakota is proud of her two nationalities: English and Bulgarian. She often shows both flags. She can speak some Bulgarian and visits her relatives in Bulgaria several times a year. Dakota is also a big fan of the football team Manchester City. After winning her fights, she often copies the goal celebrations of Manchester City players.
Dakota's Mixed Martial Arts Journey
Dakota Ditcheva started her professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career in April 2021. In her first fight at Cage Steel 25, she won in the first round. Five months later, at Celtic Gladiator 30, she won again in the first round.
She continued her winning streak at UKFC 17. Her strong performances caught the eye of bigger fighting organizations. This led her to fight at PAWFC 1 in Canada. There, she won her fight in the second round. Dakota then went to UAE Warriors 28, where she won by a unanimous decision.
Joining the Professional Fighters League
In July 2022, Dakota Ditcheva signed with the PFL. This was a big step in her career.
For her PFL debut at PFL 9 in London, Dakota won in the first round. At PFL 10, she won again with a first-round knockout. This was her sixth knockout win as a professional.
Dakota then competed in the first PFL Europe season. On March 25, 2023, at PFL Europe 1, she won in the first round by submission. In the semifinals at PFL Europe 3 on September 30, 2023, she won by knockout in the third round.
In the PFL Europe Women's Flyweight final on December 8, 2023, Dakota won the fight. The doctor stopped the fight between the first and second rounds because her opponent's eye was too swollen.
Dakota continued her winning streak in 2024. She won her fights at PFL 1 on April 4, 2024, and at PFL 4 on June 13, 2024.
On August 2, 2024, Dakota won her semifinal fight at PFL 7. In the final on November 29, 2024, at PFL 10, she won the tournament and a $1 million prize. She became the youngest champion in PFL history and the first British female MMA world champion.
Most recently, on July 19, 2025, Dakota won her fight at PFL Champions Series 2 by unanimous decision.
Dakota's Championships and Awards
Dakota Ditcheva has achieved many great things in her fighting career:
Mixed Martial Arts
- Professional Fighters League
- 2024 PFL Women's Flyweight Championship
- 2023 PFL Europe Women's Flyweight Championship
- Bloody Elbow
- 2024 Breakout Star of the Year (shared with Joaquin Buckley)
- Cageside Press
- 2024 Female Fighter of the Year
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
Images for kids
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A gold medal, like the one Dakota won at the IFMA World Championships.
See Also
- List of female mixed martial artists
- List of current PFL fighters
