Dakota Ditcheva will make her MMA return in the co-main event of PFL’s debut international league in Africa come July.
PFL Africa is being led by former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who is acting as the league’s chairman, playing a central role in developing the next generation of African champions.
Ditcheva is one of the most exciting female MMA fightersPFL The young British star is undefeated in 14 professional MMA boutsPFLDitcheva was crowned PFL’s flyweight women’s champion last December as she cruised past Brazil’s Taila Santos, winning a huge $1million (£748,000) in the process.
The 26-year-old from Sale, Greater Manchester, will now put her undefeated record on the line once again at PFL Africa’s inaugural event when she takes American Sumiko Inaba on July 26 at GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa.
Also on the Cape Town card will be first-round match-ups in the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions for the 2025 PFL Africa tournament.
Each division will feature an eight-fighter bracket, with competitors advancing through semifinals and finals.
“Kicking off the PFL Champions Series in Cape Town alongside the launch of PFL Africa reflects our commitment to grow the sport of MMA throughout the continent as well as provide pathways for African fighters to compete on a global stage and become champions,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said.
“With PFL Europe, PFL MENA and now PFL Africa launching, PFL’s international growth strategy and footprint is unmatched in the sport.
“This is all made possible by building a great team. I’m proud to partner with Francis Ngannou and Helios Sports & Entertainment Group and excited to welcome Elias Schulze as GM of PFL Africa.”
PFL’s undefeated middle champion, Johnny Eblen, will headline the Cape Town card with his title on the line against Dutchman Costello van Steenis.
Ditcheva has skyrocketed to MMA stardom since making her PFL debut in August 2022.
She has since embarked on an eight-fight win streak en route to becoming one of the promotion’s biggest stars, while MMA’s biggest league, the UFC, keep a close watch on her progress.
Ditcheva won $1m when she stopped Santos in her last fight six months agoJose Peñuela / PFL She has also won other big amounts from previous tournament winsPFL Cruising past the majority of her opponentsPFLSpeaking to talkSPORT.com in December, ‘Dangerous’ revealed a unique ritual she must partake in after every fight.
“After every fight I’ll always have a draft Coke from McDonald’s,” she said.
“That seems to be the one thing that I always go for… just a Coke, I’m not bothered about the food.
“All camp I just crave draft Coke and I’m not even a fizzy drinker. It’s really strange. I’m on water all the time.
“I always ring my Nana on the day [too]. I always FaceTime her and speak to her.
“I tend to stay very busy, I’ve got a really good team around me and that’s probably why PFL liked me so much because I’m always up for filming.”
Ngannou will act as Chairman of PFL AfricaGetty He is more likely to make a return to boxing before MMAgettDitcheva has brought new eyes to her beloved sport, and her unique background — where she used to spar with her world champion kick boxer mum in her youth — adds an appealing human interest element to her character.
Her mother, Lisa Howarth, never pushed her to be a fighter, but has stuck with her for the entire journey, and was there on the night she became Britain’s first ever female MMA world champion to present her new strap.
Ngannou, meanwhile, is eyeing up a rematch against Anthony Joshua in the world of boxing, before he makes a PFL return.
He signed for the promotion after leaving the UFC in January 2022, but has only made one appearance, flattening Renan Ferreira in the first round of his debut last October.
‘The Predator’ accepted lucrative offers to fight Tyson Fury and Joshua beforehand.
He was brutally knocked out by Joshua in his last fight in March 2024, having been floored twice before the winning punch.
It was a tough night for the Cameroonian who had displayed so much potential in his boxing debut against Fury five months prior, knocking down ‘The Gypsy King’ before suffering a narrow split decision defeat.
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