All Dakota Ditcheva wanted for Christmas was an early start to her 2026, which she was scheduled to get at PFL Road to Dubai on February 7th. Unfortunately, the standout female fighter won’t be competing on that card anymore, and now we know why. “I’m truly heartbroken. I won’t be fighting on PFL Dubai anymore,” […]
All Dakota Ditcheva wanted for Christmas was an early start to her 2026, which she was scheduled to get at PFL Road to Dubai on February 7th. Unfortunately, the standout female fighter won’t be competing on that card anymore, and now we know why.
“I’m truly heartbroken. I won’t be fighting on PFL Dubai anymore,” Ditcheva wrote on Instagram. “I cried two days straight when I injured myself. Then cried again yesterday when it officially got announced. Dramatic I know, but I wanted nothing more than to fight on that card and have an early start to 2026.”
“Only fighting once last year was a nightmare for me and I really wanted to make up for lost time. I live a great life but nothing makes me happier than being in that cage. However, that being said, I know it just WASN’T MEANT TO BE.”
While Ditcheva and PFL haven’t commented on the injury that took her off the card, a follow-up post from the PFL flyweight champion showed her with a cast on her right hand — the same hand she broke in her sole 2025 fight against Sumiko Inaba. Repeat hand injuries are never good, especially for a striking phenom like Dakota.
Ditcheva is a perfect 15-0 in MMA and 10-0 in the PFL, and was poised to become one of the promotion’s standout stars in 2025. That didn’t happen due to scheduling issues and injury, and now 2026 is starting off with an injury as well.
If there’s one silver lining here, it’s that the delay may put her on one of the PFL’s North American cards which could help grow her popularity in America.
Category: General Sports
