Dakota Ditcheva is one win away from the $1 million prize.
Friday at PFL Playoffs 1, Ditcheva (13-0) finished opponent Jena Bishop (7-2) with a big knee and punches to advance to the women’s flyweight final against former UFC title challenger Taila Santos. The stoppage came at 3:54 of Round 1.
2024 PFL Playoffs 1 took place at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
PFL’s poster girl for homegrown talent, Ditcheva, 26, was taken down early in the round. However, she worked her way to the feet and eventually landed a big knee to Bishop’s dome. Bishop dropped to the canvas and Ditcheva waved her back up. Bishop obliged, but backpedaled once on the feet. Ditcheva stalked her and dropped her with one big punch.
Referee Blake Grice stepped in and Ditcheva shushed the down Bishop and the crowd.
Dakota Ditcheva gets it done in 1 round! She's going to the #PFLWorldChampionship!!!
[ 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW ESPN & ESPN+ | #PFLPlayoffs | #PFLNashville | https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI ] pic.twitter.com/gCB4gB9gsB
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 3, 2024
After the fight, Ditcheva gave a spicy in-cage interview where she said, “We don’t do no split decisions around here,” and blasted Bishop and company for alleged comments in the lead-up to the fight.
MIC DROP from Dakota Ditcheva!! 🤫🤫
[ 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW ESPN & ESPN+ |#PFLPlayoffs | #PFLNashville | https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI ] pic.twitter.com/0UFHUmOiHG
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 3, 2024
Ditcheva then square off with Santos (22-3), who defeated Liz Carmouche earlier on the card. They’ll fight later this year.
🏴 Dakota Ditcheva vs Taila Santos 🇧🇷
The first face off!
[ 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW ESPN & ESPN+ |#PFLPlayoffs | #PFLNashville | https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI ] pic.twitter.com/LJflr7gcpf
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 3, 2024
In 13 pro appearances, Ditcheva has tallied 12 finishes including 11 TKOs.
Bishop falls into a two-fight skid. In June, she lost a split decision to Taila Santos but still qualified for the playoffs via the season point system.
The up-to-the-minute 2024 PFL Playoffs 1 results include:
- Dakota Ditcheva def. Jena Bishop via TKO (knee and punches) – Round 1,
- Oleg Popov def. Linton Vassell via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – heavyweight semifinal
- Taila Santos def. Liz Carmouche via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – women’s flyweight semifinal
- Sergey Bilostenniy def. Tyrell Fortune via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 2:00
- Alexei Pergande def. Daniel Boehle via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Cody Law def. Zachary Hicks via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:15
- Dedrek Sanders def. Sergio Cossio via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:34
- Anthony Ivy def. Jaleel Willis via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:49
- Kevin Pease def. Nick Meck via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Playoffs 1.
