Dakota Ditcheva Returns to the Octagon in Dubai
PFL star Dakota Ditcheva will make her long-awaited return to the octagon on February 7 in Dubai, facing Denise Kielholtz in a flyweight bout. This event, called PFL: Road to Dubai, marks the beginning of the promotion’s schedule for 2026.
The official announcement was made on Monday, generating great anticipation among mixed martial arts fans. The event will be headlined by the lightweight title fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Alfie Davis.
Ditcheva, with an undefeated record of 15-0, hasn’t competed since July, when she defeated Sumiko Inaba by decision, suffering a hand fracture during the fight. After her victory, Ditcheva announced the signing of a new contract with PFL.
The 27-year-old fighter from Manchester conquered the PFL world tournament in 2024, overcoming Taila Santos and Jena Bishop on her way to the title.
Kielholtz, with an 8-5 record, is a former professional kickboxer and former Bellator MMA champion. In 2021, she competed for the Bellator title against Juliana Velasquez, losing by split decision.
