News is circulating that Dakota Ditcheva could be the next PFL fighter to depart the company. A potential landing spot for the top prospect would obviously be the UFC, as she would significantly upgrade the division. PFL officials announced the entire 2025 flyweight tournament this week. Names like Liz Carmouche, Juliana Velasquez, and others are included, but there is no Ditcheva — who is the reigning champion.
With her future in the promotion very murky and rumblings of a move to the UFC being possible, we take a look at five fights we need to see if Dakota Ditcheva is UFC-bound in 2025.
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5. Maycee Barber
Maycee Barber has been on a roll since a 2021 loss to Alexa Grasso. She has won each of her last six fights, including a decision in March of last year over Katlyn Cerminara. Barber also owns wins over Amanda Ribas, Andrea Lee, and Jessica Eye. Prior to the loss to Grasso and a defeat at the hands of Roxanne Modafferi, she had won her first eight including six consecutive finishes. A clash with Ditcheva is one many fight fans will clamor for.
4. Rose Namajunas
Rose Namajunas, a former two-time champion, has long been one of the toughest female fighters on the planet. She is exceptional in all areas of mixed martial arts. She is coming off a decision loss to Erin Blanchfield in a five-round bout last year. But her resume speaks for itself with wins over Zhang Weili, Jessica Andrade, Joanna Jedrzecczyk, and Michelle Waterson. If the young PFL champ wants to prove she is elite this would be a good place to start.
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3. Alexa Grasso
Another former flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso made history when she became the first Mexican woman to win a UFC championship. She finished Valentina Shevchenko back in 2023, then battled to a split draw with her in the rematch before falling in September via decision.
Grasso is as tough and talented as they come, as she put together an impressive five-fight win streak from 2020-23. During that run, she topped Joanne Wood, Maycee Barber, and others. A Grasso vs. Ditcheva clash would be a must-see.
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2. Jessica Andrade
Jessica Andrade is a former strawweight champion who has completed in three weight classes during her time in the UFC. Like Namajunas, she is 2-1 in her last three, coming off a decision setback to Natalia Silva.
Andrade stopped Mackenzie Dern in 2023 and bested Marina Rodriguez last year. She made her return to the flyweight division in the bout with Silva and holds notable wins over Cynthia Calvillo, Amanda Lemos, and Lauren Murphy in recent years. She would be a great litmus test to see how legit Dakota Ditcheva is.
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1. Valentina Shevchenko
Valentina Shevchenko returned to the top of the UFC flyweight division last September with a decision win over Alexa Grasso. She has twice held the belt, putting together an impressive 24-4-1 record during her career.
Along with the decision win vs. Grasso, Shevchenko has also bested notable fighters Jessica Andrade, Taila Santos, Jennifer Maia, and Liz Carmouche. If the UFC is signing Ditcheva and wants her to start at the top of the division a fight with Schevchenko would be next.
