PFL’s rising flyweight star Dakota Ditcheva will not compete at PFL Dubai on February 7 due to an injury. The organization confirmed the withdrawal earlier this week, affecting her scheduled bout with Denise Kielholtz.
Ditcheva, 27, provided a personal statement through Instagram to clarify the situation and express her disappointment.
“I’m truly heartbroken I won’t be fighting on PFL Dubai anymore,” Ditcheva wrote. “I cried two days straight when I injured myself. Then cried again yesterday when it officially got announced. Dramatic I know, but I wanted nothing more than to fight on that card and have an early start to 2026.
“Only fighting once last year was a nightmare for me and I really wanted to make up for lost time. I live a great life but nothing makes me happier than being in that cage. However, that being said, I know it just WASN’T MEANT TO BE.
“So sorry to [PFL] and my opponent and sorry to my friends, family and fans who were excited to see me back out there in February. I am healthy and healing, I will be back before you know it.”
Since joining PFL in 2022, Ditcheva has emerged as a dominant force in the flyweight division. She secured the PFL Europe tournament title and went on to win the PFL Championship Tournament in 2024, earning a $1 million prize. Her last fight, a unanimous decision victory over Sumiko Inaba at PFL Africa this past July, extended her professional record to 14-0.
Her upcoming plans now focus on recovery, and it remains uncertain whether Denise Kielholtz will receive a new opponent or if the fight will be rescheduled for a later date.
Looking Forward
Ditcheva remains optimistic despite the setback. Her statement reflects a focus on healing and returning stronger, signaling that she intends to continue her rise within PFL’s competitive flyweight ranks.
