The only thing Dakota Ditcheva wants for Christmas is an early start to her 2026, which she was due to achieve on February 7 on the PFL Road to Dubai. Unfortunately, the standout female boxer will no longer be competing on the card, and now we know why.
“I’m really sad. I won’t be playing in PFL Dubai anymore,” Dicheva wrote on Instagram. “When I got injured, I cried for two days straight. Yesterday, when it was officially announced, I cried again. I know it’s dramatic, but I just want to fight on this card and get an early start to 2026.”
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“Having only one fight last year was a nightmare for me and I really wanted to make up for lost time. I live a good life but nothing makes me happier than being in a cage. However, that being said, I know it was not intentional.”
While Dicheva and the PFL have yet to comment on the injury that disqualified her, a follow-up post from the PFL flyweight champion revealed that her right hand is in a cast — the same hand she injured in her only fight against Junko Inaba in 2025. Recurring hand injuries are never a good thing, especially for an outstanding talent like Dakota.
Dicheva has a perfect record of 15-0 in MMA and 10-0 in the PFL and is expected to be one of the promotion’s standout stars in 2025. But that didn’t come to fruition due to scheduling issues and injuries, and now 2026 is also starting due to injuries.
If there’s a silver lining here, it’s that a delay could allow her to become a North American card with the PFL, which could help increase her visibility in the United States.
