Enter Dakota Ditcheva.
The returning PFL Europe Champion had a breakout 2023 and looks to build off that momentum tonight. England’s Ditcheva (10-0) puts her undefeated record on the line against California’s Lisa Mauldin.
Everything’s bigger in Texas and Mauldin (6-3) is the biggest underdog on the ‘PFL 1’ card at +1100. She’ll look to shock the world from the Boeing Center in San Antonio, Texas. Ditcheva and Mauldin collide in PFL’s newest addition: the women’s flyweight division, among their future opponents tonight.
Round 1:
Leg kick lands for Ditcheva. Mauldin throws a teep kick. Ditcheva opens up with a combo. Ditcheva throws a leg kick and goes right to work with a lengthy combo of strikes. Ditcheva and Mauldin go to the ground with Ditcheva seizing back only to lose position in a matter of seconds. Mauldin is quick to get back to her feet.
The flyweights work from the clinch. The fight reaches the ground again, but they scramble up to the feet. They separate from the clinch. Ditcheva lands a combo of punches and mixes in her kicks from a distance. Ditcheva lands punches and knees to the body and Mauldin drops down to the ground. Mauldin takes much punishment on the ground with the referee watching very closely.
Mauldin is met with more punches, but she somehow gets back up, only to be dropped a final time with a teep kick and then came the follow-up punches and a knee to the body to cap it all off with the referee there to stop the action.
Official result: Dakota Ditcheva defeats Lisa Mauldin via TKO (punches) in round 1 (3:54)
Check out the highlights below:
Dakota Ditcheva with a beautiful combo!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 5, 2024
🇺🇸ESPN2
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/LVx4OoOfHl
DAKOTA DROPS LISA!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 5, 2024
🇺🇸ESPN2
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/LHbN0fWc74
DAKOTA DITCHEVA GETS THE 6 POINT FINISH!!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 5, 2024
🇺🇸ESPN2
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/TwgYGoiYQT