Dakota Ditcheva has been one of MMA’s rising stars over the past few years after coming over from a championship-level amateur Muay Thai career. Ditcheva, who has been named by ESPN as a future top athlete of the 21st century, is a talented striker with 11 finishes in 12 fights, coming into tonight’s bout undefeated in her MMA career. Ditcheva went through Malin Hermansson, Cornelia Holm and Valentina Scatizzi last year to clinch the inaugural PFL Europe women’s flyweight championship. Now, coming over to the global stage, Ditcheva has dispatched of Lisa Mauldin and Chelsea Hackett in quick fashion as she also looks to become the inaugural PFL Women’s Flyweight Champion.

 

Jena Bishop started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 21 and only began her MMA career in 2021. Since then, the black belt has won seven of eight fights, using her jiu-jitsu to nab four submission wins. Bishop, who won first place at the 2017 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship, scored a pair of wins in Bellator before entering the PFL season. Bishop submitted Hackett in April but fell short in a split decision against Taila Santos in June.

 

Which of these two will go on to face Taila Santos this fall in the championship matchup?

 

 

Round 1

 

Ditcheva comes forward as the two feel each other out. Feints from both women during the first 30 seconds. Bishop misses a left hand. Right hand from Ditcheva. Low kick from Ditcheva. Push kick from Ditcheva. Another low kick from Ditcheva. Bishop charges forward, but Ditcheva avoids. This happens again, with Ditcheva landing a right. Bishop coming forward with a flurry. Ditcheva fires a combination of her own. Bishop gets Ditcheva’s back to the SmartCage and scores a takedown. Bishop quickly looks to improve position.

 

Ditcheva looks to use her guard to prevent Bishop’s movements, at one point threatening a triangle. Ditcheva is able to work her way back to her feet and get Bishop’s back to the SmartCage. Bishop reverses the position and pressures Ditcheva. Ditcheva breaks free from Bishop’s grasp. One-two from Bishop. A couple of knees from Ditcheva, and Bishop is down! Ditcheva lets Bishop back up on the feet. Bishop backs up to the fence. Ditcheva throws a kick and a right hand, and Bishop goes back down to the mat. The referee waves it off!

 

 

Dakota Ditcheva is one step away from going from PFL Europe Champion to PFL World Champion!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Dakota Ditcheva defeats Taila Santos by 1st round TKO (3:54) in the PFL Women’s Flyweight Semifinals, clinching a spot in the 2024 PFL World Championship

 

2024 PFL Women’s Flyweight Championship

#1 Dakota Ditcheva vs. #2 Taila Santos

  • Ditcheva remains undefeated at 13-0 with her 11th career knockout
  • Ditcheva was the 2023 PFL Europe Champion and is now attempting to become the first fight to win a PFL regional title and then go on to win the PFL Global Season
  • Ditcheva fights out of Manchester, England but trains at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, FL