Dakota Ditcheva, 5 Others Claim 2024 Professional Fighters League Global Titles

Dakota Ditcheva is a problem.

In the span of less than 365 days, the mauler from Manchester has won the Professional Fighters League Europe championship, five straight fights by KO/TKO, and on Friday at the PFL 2024 Season Championships, she became the youngest PFL global champ in history when she demolished Taila Santos (22-4) in two rounds.

We could be watching the birth of a bonafide superstar in the world of women’s mixed martial arts. Ditcheva (14-0) is a monster. She showed that she has the wrestling to shut down a recent Ultimate Fighting Championship title challenger and the striking prowess to put anyone in her way into the dirt. Santos is a world-class fighter, who was one round away from winning the UFC flyweight title, and Ditcheva blew her out of the water. Her muay thai skills are deadly, and she shows no mercy.

You can etch Timur Khizriev’s name in the history books of the Dagestani empire. The undefeated featherweight claimed the $1 million grand prize on Friday after battering former PFL tournament winner Brendan Loughnane en route to a unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) in the main event at King Saud Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

While Loughnane (29-6) spent much of his camp preparing for Khizriev’s formidable wrestling, the Manchester native wasn’t expecting Khizriev’s lighting fast hands or his slick head movement. Khizriev’s (18-0) pace hounded Loughnane all night, and there was nothing the former champ could do to keep him off him. Loughnane was bloodied and battered from round two on and forced to survive off grit to the final bell. Fighters from Dagestan have had little trouble collecting the belts across the globe. With a respected wrestling lineage at their disposal, fighters like Khizriev, Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov have showcased elite striking performances on the biggest stages.

Related » 2024 PFL Mena & Global Championships Round-by-Round Scoring

The PFL Championships were full of unforgettable fights, but none were more shocking than the light heavyweight final.

After winning the tournament last year, many expected Impa Kasanganay to become the first light heavy to repeat as champion, but Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov put a pin in that. In a mere 60 seconds, the tornado from Turkmenistan blew Kasanganay away with too many haymakers to count. Kasanganay (18-5) has been disciplined throughout his PFL run, but his decision to trade with the heavy-handed Yagshimuradov out the gate will haunt him. Once he was clipped, there was nowhere to hide, and the former champ could do nothing but shell up and take his beating. At 35, Yagshimuradov (25-7-1) notched his first world title and extended his win streak to seven.

Two undefeated welterweights entered the Smartcage for a chance at $1 million, and only one left with his undefeated record intact. Shamil Musaev (18-0-1) brutally took fellow Russian countryman Magomed Umalatov’s (17-1) unblemished streak after knocking out the Eagles MMA product in three rounds (1:44).

This fight was heavily anticipated after both men cruised to the championship. Still, Museav proved to be on another level. His wrestling was just as strong as Umalatov’s, but the difference in hand speed was astounding. The two unbeaten contenders showed respect throughout the first two rounds. It was an intriguing chess match, but the crowd grew restless. Musaev finally gave the fans something to cheer about after dropping Umalatov with a picture-perfect left hand before following up with a fight-ending flurry on the mat.

Related » Four Inaugural PFL MENA Champions Crowned in Saudi Arabia

There’s a new lightweight champion, and his name is Gadzhi Rabadanov.

The Dagestani wrestling expert proved he’s way more than just a grappler with a textbook third round knockout (2:31) over former Bellator MMA champion Brent Primus in the PFL lightweight championship. Rabadanov (24-4-1) came in on a nine-fight win streak and made Primus (15-4) look every bit of 39. Rabadanov forced Primus to his back and pressured him nonstop while in his guard. In round two, he cracked Primus with a right hand that put him on the seat of his pants. Rabandov would floor Primus two more times before putting him out for good.

Denis Goltsov has been one of the best heavyweights in the PFL for the last five years, but before Friday, he was never the best.

It would take just under three minutes to change that. “The Russian Bogatyr” claimed the top spot and the $1 million grand prize after submitting Oleg Popov with a triangle choke 2:51 into the first round of their championship bout. Goltsov (36-8) had dominant runs through the regular season, but after falling short in the finale last year, many wondered if Goltsov was doomed to forever be a runner-up. Popov (19-2) came into the fight on a 17-fight win streak and wasted little time taking the older man to the mat. Goltsov inched his way to the fence and patiently worked his legs above Popov’s head. Goltsov’s well known for his punching power and earned his ticket to the big dance off three straight TKOs, but he’s also a skilled grappler. Popov found out the hard way after being put to sleep by Goltsov’s python-like squeeze. Goltsov hopes to secure a super fight with Francis Ngannou after his career-defining victory.