Return of Dakota Ditcheva
After a year on the sidelines due to injury, British MMA fighter Dakota Ditcheva is set to make her comeback on July 31 at PFL New York. She will square off against Dutch flyweight competitor Denise Kielholtz. Ditcheva’s absence was precipitated by a fractured hand sustained during her victory over Sumiko Inaba in July 2022. Although scheduled to compete against Kielholtz earlier this year in February, the bout was delayed when she suffered another injury to the same hand. The fight has now been rescheduled to feature on the undercard of Usman Nurmagomedov’s lightweight title defense against Archie Colgan at the UBS Arena on Long Island.
Impressive Career Stats
Unbeaten in her professional career, Ditcheva boasts 15 wins, with an impressive 12 achieved by knockout, cementing her status as one of the most thrilling fighters to emerge from Britain. The 27-year-old made history in 2024 by clinching the PFL flyweight tournament, becoming the first British woman to win a world title in MMA.
Experience of Denise Kielholtz
Kielholtz, aged 37, brings a wealth of experience as a former kickboxing world champion, with a mixed martial arts record of 9 wins out of 14 fights. Ditcheva, hailing from Manchester, has showcased her prowess with seven first-round victories in her ten outings with PFL.
Main Event Highlights
In the main event, Russia’s Nurmagomedov, who holds an unblemished record of 22-0, will be defending his lightweight title for the second time after first securing it by defeating Britain’s Alfie Davis in February. Colgan, his challenger and unbeaten in 13 professional fights with six victories by stoppage, adds further intrigue to this exciting matchup schedule.
Stay Updated
Fans eager to witness the action can stay updated on the latest MMA happenings, including fight results and schedules, through various platforms including BBC Sport.
