Dakota Ditcheva is determined to add another world title to the collection alongside her teammate Kayla Harrison before the end of 2024. After winning the Professional Fighters League (PFL) women’s flyweight season earlier this year, Ditcheva is set to return to the cage this Saturday at PFL Africa, where she will face Sumiko Inaba. Watching Harrison secure the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/mma/ufc/”>UFC belt with a commanding submission over Julianna Peña in June at UFC 316 has fueled Ditcheva’s motivation as she prepares for her upcoming fight.
Kayla Harrison’s Journey Fuels Ditcheva’s Drive
Reflecting on Harrison’s path, Ditcheva expressed awe at her teammate’s remarkable achievements from Olympic champion to UFC titleholder. She described Harrison’s rapid ascent in MMA as “absolutely crazy,” noting how Harrison dominated in PFL before making her mark in the UFC within just a few fights.
“Yeah, it’s crazy. I’ve actually got goosebumps when you think about it,”
Ditcheva shared with MMA Fighting.
“After she won out there was loads of things online, I was just reading it all because, for me, a journey like that — Olympic gold medalist, comes to PFL, cleans everyone out there. Goes to UFC, cleans everyone out there. Within two or three fights, she’s got the UFC belt. That journey that she’s been on is absolutely crazy.”
Ditcheva’s Dominance in the 2024 PFL Season
At 26 years old, Ditcheva dominated her division throughout the 2024 PFL season, culminating in an emphatic stoppage victory against former UFC challenger Taila Santos at the PFL World Championships in November. Impressively, Ditcheva has finished every one of her nine PFL opponents and is positioned for a leading role on one of the league’s biggest upcoming cards.
Inspired by Harrison’s Work Ethic at American Top Team
As Ditcheva’s profile rises and the competition intensifies, she draws inspiration from Harrison’s relentless dedication and discipline at American Top Team. Ditcheva admires Harrison’s rigorous training routines and unwavering commitment to staying active, even amid demanding weight cuts and recovery.
“The weight cuts, the dedication she’s got to training, when she’s saying in these interviews, she’s not missed a day running or biking, that girl is in the gym every morning, every afternoon, and between them sessions, she’s walking, she’s running,”
Ditcheva explained.
“She’s the hardest worker in that gym.”
“So to have someone like that around us and set such an example like that for us girls in the gym is like second to none. That’s why we’re the best, best gym in the world because we’ve got examples like that around us. How can we not be inspired and want to keep working hard when we see people like Kayla Harrison doing that?”
Looking Ahead: Ditcheva’s Goals and the Impact of Harrison’s Example
Dakota Ditcheva’s ambition to claim a world title mirrors Kayla Harrison’s trailblazing journey, which serves as a powerful source of encouragement within their training environment. With Harrison’s influence pushing her forward, Ditcheva hopes to continue raising her performance and cementing her status among MMA’s elite. Her upcoming fight at PFL Africa will test her readiness and mark an important step toward fulfilling her championship aspirations inspired by her teammate’s groundbreaking success in the UFC.