Dakota Dicheva, MMA Fighter Who Realized Her Dream Of Joining PFL After Only Coaching Young People At Her Mother's Gym

MMA fighter Dakota Ditcheva. (Photo : Instagram.com/@dakotaad_)

JAKARTA - Dakota Ditcheva, who is now an MMA star, has an unexpected story about how she started her career in the free-fight world. Ditcheva, who was just an instructor at the gym, was able to train with Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier just a week later.

Ditcheva is a Muay Thai champion in England from Manchester. He has just signed a two-year contract with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Ditcheva is currently on the world famous American Top Team from Florida. The club was once home to UFC champion Amanda Nunes with team captain Kayla Harrison who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

In this new club. Ditcheva also trains with Poirier and Masvidal who are also two of the biggest stars of the UFC. The great opportunity to train with these stars never even occurred to Ditcheva.

"I was alone the first few days, I didn't know anyone here at all, until my mother and brother came to visit, but they (the stars) weren't seen until a week later," Ditcheva was quoted as saying by The Sun.

Although he could not believe it, but then Ditcheva actually met the big stars. Being able to be on the same training ground and be a part of the top stars made Ditcheva feel like a dream.

"It's weird because I feel like a fan coming in. But when I walked in there was Dustin Poirier training, Kayla was there too, some other UFC fighters like Masvidal were there too," he said.

"I feel like I'm still a fan of them, but then I can train on the same mat it's crazy. I'm one of them now," he continued recounting the experience.

Ditcheva who is currently 23 years old has major sponsors such as Gym King and Love Hemp. It is this sponsorship that allows PFL newcomers to fight full time.

Interestingly, a week before joining the PFL, he was just an instructor at his mother's gym. He helps train young people to adults. However, his life changes when he finds himself able to train with the best MMA players.

"I'm still coaching, still doing my job. I'm coaching and teaching between MMA training agendas," he explains.

"It's tiring. I have to get up, train in the morning, teach and then go back to training. But that's one of the reasons why I'm still here because I have to focus on training because I don't want my PFL debut opportunity to pass," he added.

Ditcheva will make her PFL debut on 27 August at the Copper Box in London to appear in the final semifinals of the season. He hopes to fight in a party that promises a $1 million prize pool by 2024 when there are more competitors.