The return of “Dangerous” is going to have to wait.
2024 Professional Fighters League (PFL) Women’s Flyweight World Tournament champion Dakota Ditcheva will not be competing at the promotion’s first event of 2026, PFL Dubai, after suffering an injury that forced her out of her scheduled bout against Denise Kielholtz.
PFL announced the news today, but did not disclose the nature of the injury or provide a timetable for her return.
Ditcheva (15-0) has been flawless inside PFL’s SmartCage, winning all nine of her fights with the promotion, including seven knockouts (watch highlights). The undefeated 27-year-old captured the inaugural PFL Europe tournament title before adding the 2024 Women’s Flyweight championship, firmly establishing herself as one of the best strikers in women’s MMA.
For what it’s worth, Ditcheva only fought once in 2025, defeating Sumiko Inaba — a bout in which she broke her hand.
With no timeline currently available, it’s possible Ditcheva could return later in 2026 against 2025 PFL champion Liz Carmouche — a matchup many believe should have been booked from the start.
Meanwhile, Kielholtz (8-5) was set to return from a 27-month layoff. She was slated for the 2024 Flyweight tournament, but withdrew for undisclosed reasons. “Miss Dynamite” rides a two-fight win streak, including victories over Inaba and Paula Cristina.
Here is what PFL Dubai looks like now:
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