Dakota Ditcheva has made historical past by changing into the primary British lady to carry a world blended martial arts world title.
The 26-year-old Muay Thai fighter moved to 14-0 in her skilled profession with an emphatic stoppage of former UFC title contender Taila Santos in Riyadh to win the Skilled Fighters League (PFL) flyweight title.
Ditcheva ended the competition with a flurry of physique photographs within the second spherical for her thirteenth win by stoppage, in opposition to a world class star in Santos, because the Brazilian suffered simply her fourth skilled defeat in 26 contests – and her first exterior the UFC.
Santos tried to attempt to gradual the Sale-born star down together with her grappling abilities however Ditcheva’s hanging proved too sturdy and she or he used knees and kicks early on earlier than raining elbows and physique photographs – very a lot dwelling as much as her ‘Harmful’ nickname – though the Brit was choosing her photographs and had already folded her opponent by the point the combat was stopped.
Ditcheva admitted afterwards that she felt some satisfaction in beating Santos, who had made disparaging remarks within the build-up to the combat.
“She’s a tough girl but I knew what I was capable of,” Ditcheva mentioned. “She’s been saying ‘she’s only a Barbie, she ought to be a mannequin’.
“Well, a model just beat your a** in round two, so shut up.”
Ditcheva retained her unbeaten document with the win (Photographs: PFL)
Ditcheva secured $1m (£785,361) in prize cash with the victory and believes she beat the very best opponent accessible to her within the PFL.
“I’ve been telling you, I’ve tried to tell you, I just keep proving them wrong,” Ditcheva added.
“The world is mine. I just beat the best girl out there. Me and PFL will come out with something amazing again.”
It was not such excellent news for fellow Brit Brendan Loughnane, who adopted Ditcheva’s victory by combating in the primary occasion.
Loughnane misplaced by unanimous choice to Russia’s Timur Khizriev as he tried to win the PFL featherweight world title for the second time.
