History-maker Ditcheva aims to bring PFL to Manchester

Dakota Ditcheva says she is determined to bring the PFL to Manchester now she is the flyweight world champion.

Ditcheva was raised in Manchester and made history in November when she became the first British woman to win a major MMA world title in the PFL, UFC or Bellator.

The 26-year-old wants her next bout to be on home soil having spent the entirety of 2024 fighting in the United States and Saudi Arabia.

"For me now, being the first female world champion from the UK is crazy," Ditcheva told BBC Sport.

"But that's why I feel like it's important for me to keep pushing the Manchester card now, and get as much as I can in Manchester, because I want to be able to bring it home.

"I don't want everything to go to the States. I want everyone to enjoy it here, us to build that fanbase here in the UK, which I don't feel like we're doing very well at the moment."

The PFL usually stages its regular season in the United States, aside from the 2024 finals which were in Saudi Arabia.

It uses a tournament system, unlike the UFC, and each year a new champion is crowned in their respective divisions.

Ditcheva has never fought in Manchester in her professional MMA career, but in 2023 she fought in the PFL's European series.

With an undefeated record of 14 fights with 12 knockouts, Ditcheva is considered one of the best flyweights in the world alongside the likes of UFC champion Valentina Shevchenko.

Ditcheva says there is still a lot of work to do in growing the MMA fanbase in the UK, and for that reason she wants to see more events in the country. This appears to be her priority for 2025.

While some pundits have suggested the idea of her moving to the UFC, Ditcheva says she needs to "sit down with the PFL" and discuss options.

"Maybe you'll see me do another tournament again, or maybe you'll see me in Manchester fighting on a pay-per-view card - we'll see," says Ditcheva.

"I'm not planning on losing any time soon. So for me, just keep the challenges going and keep getting better."