Dakota Ditcheva has named Valentina Shevchenko as one of the few women in the world who can beat her at 125 pounds.
However, the PFL flyweight champion now has a common opponent with the UFC legend, brutally stopping Taila Santos where Shevchenko won a narrow split decision. In fact, there is a school of thought among many fans that the Brazilian did enough to win when they met in June 2022.
And Ditcheva believes that if the crossover fight were to happen, she could work with her American Top Team coaches to create a game plan and become a double champion. But she's focusing on a fun Christmas first, where she'll spend some of her $1 million winnings on gifts for her family.
Dakota Ditcheva names Valentina Shevchenko as the only fighter who could beat her
For the better part of the two years since she made her debut for PFL in 2022, Dakota Ditcheva has had to deal with fans and pundits calling her a can-buster. She is undefeated as a professional MMA fighter and has only been on the scorecards once in her entire career.
However, when she defeated Taila Santos at the PFL Championships in Riyadh last month, she silenced any doubters. And a dialogue has started in the space about where she ranks among the best 125-pound fighters in the world.
“It's quite funny, there was a real change,” she told Bloody Elbow of her public perception after winning the title. “I expected people to say, 'Santos just got out of the UFC,' and whatever, that was my expectation.
“But it's changed now and it's not 'Valentina Shevchenko would beat her', people ask 'how would she do against Shevchenko?' How would she do against Erin Blanchfield? So I've gained a bit of respect, which is nice.
“I don't want people singing my praises and calling me the best fighter ever because I understand there are better girls out there. But I do feel like I've gained a bit of respect now, which is nice. Shevchenko has been around so long, she has all the rubies, so she would be one [of the better girls].”
Dakota Ditcheva teases how a Valentina Shevchenko fight would go
While a co-promotion with the UFC may seem miles away, it may not be as far out of the question as you might think. Saudi Arabian boxing supremo Turki Alalsheikh has said he would push Dana White to make a cross-promotional heavyweight clash between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.
And if such an event were to occur, Ditcheva believes she could devise a plan to defeat the elusive Shevchenko. “Sign me up for that,” she declared. “We will fight anyone, me and my team are there mentally and physically we can make it happen.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
“I mean, she's tough, she always does five rounds. But will I ever go five rounds? I respect her so much and look up to her so much, so I won't trash talk her, she deserves more than that, but I definitely feel like I'm rising above that now.
“I'm only 26 and that's something different. I have so much more maturing and growing to do compared to these girls. It's exciting because if I beat people like Santos now, think about what I'll be like when I'm 30 or 31, so I definitely have a bright future.”
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