Dakota Lili-Joa Ditcheva (born 11 July 1998) is a British

Muay Thai Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...

champion. She was part of the British team that won International Federation of Muaythai Amateur World Championships in Jönköping, Sweden. She is three-time world champion and Daily Mirror and Sport England Pride of Sports Young Sportsperson of the Year.

Early life

Born on June 13, 1999, in Manchester, England, Dakota Ditcheva grew up in a family of martial artists. Her mother,

Lisa Howarth Lisa Howarth is a retired British professional kickboxer who is a former World Kickboxing Association champion. Personal life Dakota Ditcheva is a professional muay thai fighter and daughter of Lisa Howarth. Titles *1995 – WKA Super Bantam ...

, 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.

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 PFL may refer to: Science * Pyruvate formate lyase, an enzyme important in the regulation of anaerobic glucose metabolism * Positive feedback loop * posterior frontal lobe Sport * Peel Football League, an Australian rules football league * Pio ...

. 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.

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 8–0 , Malin Hermansson , Submission (rear-naked choke) , PFL Europe 1 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:52 , Newcastle, England , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0 , Katherine Corogenes , KO (punch) , PFL 10 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:20 , New York City, New York, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–0 , Hassna Gaber , TKO (submission to knee to the body) , PFL 9 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:58 , London, England , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 , Paula Cristina , Decision (unanimous) , UAE Warriors 28 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (, ; ar, أَبُو ظَبْيٍ ' ) is the capital and second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates. It is also the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the centre of the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area. ...

, United Arab Emirates , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 , Simone da Silva , TKO (punches) , PAWFC 1 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:43 ,

Calgary Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, makin ...

, Canada , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Patricia Borges , TKO (elbows) , UK Fighting Championships 17 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:58 ,

Preston Preston is a place name, surname and given name that may refer to: Places England *Preston, Lancashire, an urban settlement **The City of Preston, Lancashire, a borough and non-metropolitan district which contains the settlement **County Boro ...

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Kerry Isom , TKO (punches) , Celtic Gladiator 30 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:49 , Blackburn, England , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Jenny Line , TKO (elbows and knees) , Caged Steel 25 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:04 , Sheffield, England ,

References

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