The rapid rise in mixed martial arts in Dakota Ditcheva has attracted attention from both fans and fellow fighters. As the first British woman to win a global MMA title, Diccheva’s impact on sports is already important. Her professional records are 14-0, and those 12 wins are brought by knockouts or TKOs. She has a strong background in kickboxing and Muay Thai and is a knockout machine.
Molly McCann tells Dakota Diccheva
In 2024, Dakota Ditcheva claimed the PFL Women’s Flyweight World Championship, beating former UFC title challenger Tera Santos. This solidified his reputation as one of the most promising competitors in the sport.
Dakota Ditcheva’s achievements are not noticed by her peers. Molly McCann, a veteran of the UK MMA scene and training partner for Diccheva, has spoken openly about the potential of a young fighter. McCann, who previously hosted the Cage Warriors flyweight championship and competed in both the UFC flyweight and strawweight divisions before retiring in 2025, knows the challenge of reaching the top level of the sport. She considers Diccheva to be someone who can surpass even the most established names in female MMA. Molly McCann explained in an interview with James Lynch:
“I think she’s potentially better than any of us. I’ve even left her there. She can do everything Valentina did. She was UFC-compatible before she became PFL.
The comparison with Valentina Shevchenko is noteworthy. Shevchenko began her professional MMA career in 2003, becoming one of the best fighters in the history of the sport. She won the UFC women’s flyweight title in 2018, defending it seven times, establishing the standard for superiority in the division. After temporarily losing the title to Alexa Grasso in 2023, Shevchenko regained her belt in the 2024 trilogy. She started with MMA after a career between kickboxing and Muay Thai.
As Ditcheva’s career progresses, expectations continue to grow. Support from McCann, who herself is the pioneer of the British MMA, underscores the expectations surrounding Diccheva’s future. With her undefeated record, world championships and support from her experienced peers, Diccheva is located to shape the next era of female MMA.