Perhaps one of the most highly anticipated new combatants to the global PFL scene is Dakota Ditcheva, the undefeated 2023 PFL Europe women’s flyweight champion. Ditcheva was a three-time Junior Amateur World Champion in Muay Thai before transitioning to MMA full time in 2019. After a 5-0 start to her career, Ditcheva appeared in two showcase bouts for PFL during 2022, scoring first-round TKOs of Hassna Gaber and Katherine Corogenes. Ditcheva then went on to claim inaugural PFL Europe gold with a first-round submission of Malin Hermansson, a third-round knockout of Cornelia Holm and a first-round doctor’s stoppage win against Valentina Scatizzi.

 

Lisa Mauldin is a kickboxing specialist, getting her start in combat sports at a young age through karate before falling in love with Muay Thai, as well as training jiu-jitsu. Mauldin, who feels her speed is her strength in the SmartCage, competed in the 2023 PFL Challenger Series, scoring a third-round TKO of Helen Peralta. Though she didn’t win the PFL contract that night, she did go on to defeat the woman who did – Desiree Yanez – with a first-round submission in a showcase bout in August.

 

With these two moving on to the global stage and the PFL’s regular-season format, who will score an all-important first victory in the PFL?

 

 

Round 1

 

Mauldin moving around the outside. Ditcheva lands a low kick. Mauldin with a push kick. Left hand from Ditcheva, followed by a small combination that ends with a missed front kick. Left hand from Ditcheva again. Low kick by Ditcheva. Combination by Ditcheva backs Mauldin into the fence. Ditcheva with a low kick. Ditcheva scored a takedown and looked for a submission, but Mauldin quickly scrambled back to her feet, her back pressed against the PFL SmartCage. Ditcheva goes for a trip, but Mauldin counters and gets the upper hand on the ground. Ditcheva quickly scrambles back to her feet.

 

 

Mauldin sports a nasty gash on the area she was leg kicked on. Right hand from Ditcheva coming in. Combination to the body by Ditcheva. Ditcheva lands a big knee, and Mauldin is hurt! Mauldin covers up as Ditcheva rains down blows. Ditcheva lands another knee and fires off some ground-and-pound! Ditcheva waits for Mauldin to return to her feet. Then, she fired off a front kick to the body that dropped Mauldin. A few shots later, this one was done!

 

 

Dakota Ditcheva’s potential path from PFL Europe gold to PFL global gold starts off strong, earning six points and a first-place position in the women’s flyweight standings!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

“Dangerous” Dakota Ditcheva defeats Lisa Mauldin by 1st round TKO (3:54), earning 6 points in the PFL Women’s Flyweight Division.