RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The injury bug has bitten Dakota Ditcheva once again. The standout fighter who's struggled to stay healthy since winning the 2024 PFL flyweight tournament announced she'll be headed back on the sidelines for an extended period following her latest victory.
PFL New York saw Ditcheva, 28, make a triumphant return two weeks ago when she earned a lopsided unanimous decision against former Bellator kickboxing champion Denise Kielholts. The flyweight star, however, revealed on her YouTube channel on Sunday that she has once again suffered a pair of broken hands.
"Breaking news: I am injured again. I broke my hands in the fight," Ditcheva said. "I could feel it from the second I started the second round. I didn't tell my corner. I didn't tell anybody. I didn't show it this time, and I didn't actually tell anybody until I got out of the cage.
"I am back in splints until my surgeon has decided what the next steps are going forward, which will be in the next few days."
Broken hands are nothing new for Ditcheva. The Kielholtz fight acted as Ditcheva's return to action after a dominant win against Sumiko Inaba in July 2025. Like in this latest appearance, Ditcheva first broke her hands in that bout, leading to her recovering for the better part of the year that followed.
"I was told that if I didn't go ahead with the surgery [last year], there was a possibility that it would break again in my fight," Ditcheva said. "And unfortunately, I took the risk in not doing the surgery because I was hoping that it would hold strong without intervening with that kind of thing — and it didn't. So it's no new injury.
"It was a choice of mine to have the surgery the first time, and I didn't. So therefore, I'm paying the price for it now, and I will be out for a little bit. It is what it is. I'm going to move forward. I have honestly cried nonstop the last week."
Despite the frustrations in having to go right back into a lengthy healing process, Ditcheva said she isn't going to let the setback stunt her career. She admitted to those initial fears creeping back into mind, but assures she plans to make a speedier return this time.
The expectation off the win was for Ditcheva to finally collide with her fellow top PFL flyweight, Liz Carmouche. That matchup will once again have to wait, as Carmouche rides high on a four-fight win streak, having recently submitted fellow UFC veteran Viviane Araujo via a second-round guillotine choke at PFL San Diego in June.
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