Dakota Ditcheva has pushed back against the idea that she is being handled carefully by PFL, insisting she did not choose her comeback opponent and that the promotion matched her with Denise Kielholtz instead of Liz Carmouche.
After a frustrating spell on the sidelines, Ditcheva was originally scheduled to compete in February when she was recovering from injury. Another injury then delayed her return again, leaving the PFL flyweight picture unresolved while Liz Carmouche remained the top-ranked contender and the most obvious next challenge.
Before Friday's PFL event in New York, though, the promotion opted to book Ditcheva against Kielholtz, who had won in Dubai before being paired with her. For Ditcheva, the key point is simple: she says the fight was not her call.
“I didn’t choose this”
Ditcheva was clear when asked about the criticism that she receives special treatment. “I didn’t choose this,” she said, adding that PFL came to her and asked whether she wanted to fight Denise. She also rejected the idea that she is selecting favourable matchups behind the scenes.
“I don’t ever pick my opponents,” Ditcheva said. “I let PFL come to me with whoever they want to put me against and I think they felt like Denise made sense.”
That matters because the discussion around Ditcheva is no longer just about returning from injury. As one of the growing faces of PFL, every booking around her now draws attention, especially when it involves the top of the flyweight division.
Liz Carmouche remains the bigger conversation
Carmouche remains the name many would expect to be next if Ditcheva continues to win. She has already been described as the top-ranked flyweight contender, and while Ditcheva did not dismiss that possibility, she made it clear she is not the one controlling the path.
“I just came back and said I’m ready to fight, they said let’s give Denise the fight she was promised,” Ditcheva explained. “I just fight whoever they give me.”
That is the sort of response that cuts through the noise. It does not promise a title shot, and it does not lean into the rivalry around Carmouche. It simply places the focus back on the promotion’s matchmaking and on Ditcheva’s willingness to take the fight offered to her.
No rush to force the Carmouche fight
Ditcheva was equally direct when asked about the possibility of meeting Carmouche down the line. “Liz has had her comments but if we end up fighting, we end up fighting,” she said. “That’s not something I’m avoiding at all.”
She then made her position even clearer by saying the belt is not the only issue in play. “As regards to the belt, no one’s got the belt yet and I am not bothered if I fight for it or not,” she said. “I would fight Liz for no belt as long as I’m fighting for my No. 1 spot.”
That line goes to the heart of the matter. For Ditcheva, the ranking appears to matter more than the title talk, at least for now. “I feel like my No. 1 spot is more important than the belt for me,” she added.
She also played down the personal side of the debate, saying the trash talk does not especially interest her. “At this point, I’m just like I’m sure Liz is a really nice lady,” Ditcheva said. “But I’m not bothered by the whole trash talk thing.”
For now, the immediate question is whether Ditcheva can return with a statement win over Kielholtz. If she does, the pressure on PFL to move her towards Carmouche will only increase. If not, the conversation about whether she is being protected will only get louder.
Either way, Ditcheva has made her stance plain: she is happy to fight whoever PFL puts in front of her, and if Carmouche is next, so be it.
