After a disappointing 2023 season, Brendan Loughnane has not put a foot wrong as he attempts to reclaim the PFL featherweight title this season.

Loughnane started the campaign with a comprehensive first-round stoppage victory against Brazilian Pedro Carvalho in April.

Just two months later, Loughnane flexed his muscles once again, putting the featherweight division on notice that he was back and meant business.

Loughnane dispatched of Justin Gonzales in two rounds - a doctor stoppage ultimately handed the Mancunian a route to the semi-finals.

Kai Kamaka III, who previously competed in the UFC, gave Loughnane his toughest test of the season in the last four, however, the Englishman did enough to edge a split-decision.

Ditcheva is holding her post-fight interview in the cage right now, full quotes to follow, but she said "now you all know what I'm capable of".

She has also started the campaign for a PFL card in Manchester next year.

I wouldn't be against that!

Speaking of Manchester, Brendan Loughnane is up next in his featherweight title bout against Timur Khizriev.

Image source, PFL

This was expected to be Ditcheva's toughest test to date but she has just dismantled an opponent who lost a narrow split-decision when facing UFC great Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title in 2022.

Ditcheva is the real deal.

That result seemed inevitable from the moment Ditcheva walked down the ramp like she owned it.

Ditcheva is the first-ever PFL women's flyweight champion and takes home £785,000 too!

Ditcheva is on another level.

She becomes Britain's first-ever female mixed martial arts world champion.

We know Ditcheva always has a celebration up her sleeve... this time she pulls out a lipstick and mimes applying it in the cage.

All in a night's work for the Mancunian.

Wow.

That was special.

Ditcheva has Santos backed up on the cage and another knee takes all the wind out of Santos. Ditcheva throws a swinging elbow and then digs a left hand in to the body.

Santos doubles over and covers up, allowing Ditcheva to throw two more body shots before the referee steps in.

Image source, PFL

IT'S OVER!!!

Ditcheva makes history!

Ditcheva turns up the tempo as she circles away from the cage, landing with punches and kicks.

Santos looks hurt as she absorbs another knee to the middle and Ditcheva pounces.

Image source, PFL

Ditcheva is the one driving the exchanges as they meet in the middle.

A flick of the leg and then it's followed by a looping right as Santos takes the bait. Santos tries to become the aggressor but Ditcheva backs off and then closes the distance with a ripping knee up the middle.

Santos is taking shots from all angles and decides to go back to that body lock again. It's the same result, tough, Ditcheva gets out of trouble.

Ditcheva starts where she left off - why not?

A kick straight up the middle. It doesn't land cleanly but sends an early warning to Santos.

Ditcheva is forced back on to the fence and defends well with an elbow.

Santos manages to lock her hands around the body of Ditcheva but it's the same outcome as the first round - Ditcheva patiently fights her way out.

Ditcheva starts to vary the kicks and lands one straight up the middle to the face of Santos.

Oh. Ditcheva lands to the head with a right and Santos backs off to the cage. She looks hurt.

Ditcheva senses an opportunity and closes the distance, landing an elbow on the chin of his opponent.

A strong finish to the round for Ditcheva.

Image source, PFL

Dan Hardy
PFL chief on DAZN

She's got Santos biting on those feints really well. She's tenderising that lead leg as well. The longer this goes on, the more that leg will hurt.

Santos goes straight back to grappling and has the body lock with Ditcheva backed up on the cage.

After a short period of resistance from Ditcheva, Santos drags her to the floor but Ditcheva refuses to accept that position and is straight back to her feet.

Ditcheva goes back to the well with those calf kicks. That's credit in the bank and will start to limit Santos' movement as the fight goes on.

Ditcheva sets the tone early with several stinging leg kicks, leaning on her Muay Thai roots.

Santos is alert as Ditcheva feints with the hands and tries to close the gap, turning the Mancunian on to the cage and locking up around her body.

Ditcheva manages to wrestle herself out of danger and forces Santos to the ground before stepping away and inviting the Brazilian back to her feet.

No touch of gloves from Dakota Ditcheva and Taila Santos.

They mean business.

Off we go in this PFL flyweight world title contest!

It's incredible that Dakota Ditcheva is just moments away from potentially becoming the first British woman to win a mixed martial arts world title.

Not an ounce of worry on her face.

Dan Hardy
PFL chief on DAZN

Dakota's so relaxed right now. How can you look so relaxed in a situation like this?

Here comes Manchester's Dakota Ditcheva.

Ditcheva pauses at the top of the ramp and raises her hand to her ear waiting for the music to kick in.

'Freed From Desire' hits... well worth the wait.

I thought Santos looked confident but Ditcheva may have just topped that, raising an arm in the air as she strides down the ramp.

Here we go.

Brazil's Taila Santos is first to make the walk.

Santos already has 25 bouts under her belt and looks pretty loose as she shakes off her arms and jogs down the ramp.

Image source, PFL

After cruising through the 2023 PFL Europe season, it was inevitable that Dakota Ditcheva would get the opportunity to prove her quality on the world stage.

Ditcheva has further enhanced her reputation this year in the flyweight tournament and is adamant that she will continue to dominant for years to come.

"It's going to be a massive moment. I'm gonna be PFL world champion and it will be an amazing milestone for me," Ditcheva said.

"And this is just the start, that's why I say milestone. It's just the start of an amazing journey for me."