CHICAGO — For quite some time, the hypothetical matchup between Professional Fighters League star Dakota Ditcheva and former Bellator champion and UFC title challenger Liz Carmouche has been one of the most heavily discussed topics in women’s mixed martial arts. Fans and pundits alike have routinely circled the pairing, viewing it as a natural clash of elite styles and veteran savvy versus surging, undefeated youth. However, the landscape of the PFL women’s flyweight division shifted dramatically following a pivotal night of fights at PFL Chicago, rendering the long-discussed rivalry largely obsolete in the eyes of the undefeated English standout.
Speaking backstage at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago following the event, Ditcheva addressed the media, including outlets such as Cageside Press, to make her stance abundantly clear. With Jena Bishop defeating Carmouche via decision at the event to claim the promotion’s inaugural women’s flyweight championship, Ditcheva firmly believes that the narrative surrounding her career and next steps has evolved past a potential showdown with Carmouche.
“I don’t need the Liz fight. I know a lot of fans want to see it, but it’s not a fight that I’m like, my career is dependent on. I want to go to a level that Liz hasn’t been able to go to,” Ditcheva stated, bringing her unblemished 16-0 professional record into sharp focus as she assesses her championship trajectory within the organization.
The relationship between Ditcheva and Carmouche has not been without friction. As the PFL continually opted against booking the pair in previous matchmaking cycles, Carmouche frequently leaned into a public narrative suggesting that the younger, hard-hitting prospect was actively avoiding a contest against her. Ditcheva, however, strongly rejects the notion that fear played any role in the promotion’s past decisions or her own career choices.
According to Ditcheva, the hesitation to book the bout came down to promotional strategy and marketability rather than any reluctance from her corner of the division. She pointed out that Carmouche has occasionally used the media to talk down her accomplishments and push the narrative of avoidance, but Ditcheva feels the dynamics of the division have ultimately outgrown the aging rivalry.
“Now she likes to talk down and say like I’m running away from her and all this kind of stuff,” Ditcheva explained. “I feel like there’s a lot more to it than just me and Liz fighting. You’ve got to be able to sell it, and I think they can sell Jena better than they can sell Liz.”
That assessment gained immediate validation following Bishop’s significant championship victory at PFL Chicago. Even before the event cemented Bishop’s status as the inaugural titleholder, the division was clearly trending toward a new era. Yet, the persistent chatter from fans and media regarding a matchup with Carmouche had worn thin for the undefeated prospect, who insists her competitive drive is universal rather than selective.
“I feel like she needs to sit back a little bit, think about what she’s saying. I am not scared to fight Liz. That is one thing that I’m not scared of. I’m not scared to fight anybody,” Ditcheva exclaimed, visibly frustrated by the lingering questions surrounding the matchup. “Maybe it didn’t get away as well, so that’s the other side of it. Maybe we will fight. But at the same time, I don’t need that fight. I’m sick of hearing everybody go like ‘oh it’s the fight to make.’ She just lost to Jena. It’s not the fight to make anymore.”
With Carmouche falling short in her championship bid, the path forward for the division has become much more straightforward. Next up for the undefeated English star will be a high-stakes title fight against the newly crowned champion, Jena Bishop. The gravity of the upcoming booking was underscored when the two fighters faced off inside the cage at PFL Chicago, formally setting the stage for their high-profile rematch.
The timeline for Ditcheva’s return to active competition is heavily dependent on her physical recovery. The rising star has been sidelined while recuperating from a severe injury sustained in her last outing, where she remarkably fought through the adversity of breaking both of her hands. Fortunately, her rehabilitation has reached a positive milestone, with medical professionals giving her the official green light to resume boxing training. This encouraging development places her on a steady trajectory toward a full recovery and an anticipated return to the cage sometime in early 2027.
“February, March next year I hope,” she suggested, mapping out her ideal timetable for stepping back under the bright lights of the PFL cage.
As for the promotional dynamics heading into the championship showdown, Ditcheva acknowledges Bishop’s new status while maintaining her characteristic confidence. With Bishop holding the inaugural belt, the operational momentum rests in the champion’s hands, yet Ditcheva maintains that her own marketability and star power keep her firmly positioned as the focal point of the division.
“I guess the balls in her court, but I’m still the golden girl. So if they want me back in the cage, then she’s going to have to come up with some strategy,” Ditcheva remarked, emphasizing the commercial and athletic weight she brings to the promotion.
When asked to break down how a second encounter between herself and Bishop would likely unfold inside the cage, Ditcheva offered a confident assessment rooted in their previous history and Bishop’s recent performance. Believing that her style presents unique challenges that differ significantly from what Carmouche brought to the table, Ditcheva anticipates a familiar outcome while acknowledging the improvements her opponent has made over time.
“Probably the same as last time. She’s definitely improved, I’m not taking anything away from her tonight. She took some heavy shots, so she can definitely obviously take a good bit of damage. But yeah, I feel like I’m different from Liz for sure,” Ditcheva noted.
Elaborating further on her analytical view of Bishop’s championship-winning performance, Ditcheva admitted that while the victory was solid, it did not reveal any insurmountable challenges that would alter her game plan moving forward. She expressed a desire to let Bishop savor her championship moment, yet remained candid about her internal assessment of the current divisional landscape.
“I wasn’t like crazy impressed with the level, but not taking anything away from her performance tonight. I want to let her have her moment, but I wasn’t crazy impressed with ‘wow this is going to be crazy hard.’ But I do think she’s improved since the last time I fought her,” Ditcheva concluded.
