Dakota Ditcheva scores her 9th stoppage victory
British flyweight Dakota Ditcheva started the 2024 Professional Fighters League season with a sensational victory over Lisa Mauldin in Texas on Thursday.
The 25-year-old defeated Mauldin in the first round, extending her undefeated record to 11-0.
Mauldin, 33, collapsed under Dicheva's strikes to the body and head.
While Ditcheva showed flashes of brilliance, there was bad news for Londoner Linton Vassell, who was stopped by Denis Goltsov in a heavyweight bout.
The Manchester native raised £79,000 in the process and was immediately promoted to the American season of the PFL, where he was given $1 million (£800,000) in prize money and a world title.
Ditcheva dominated the first four minutes of the opening round as Mauldin struggled to protect Ditcheva with his versatile striking ability.
Ditcheva landed a sharp combination straight right and left to the body of Mauldin, then dropped her with a powerful knee kick.
The American was able to get back to her feet, but quickly returned to the canvas after Ditcheva landed another well-placed kick to the body.
The referee intervened and stopped the match, awarding Dicheva six points for finishing the first round.
Ditcheva is aiming to reach the semi-finals later this year ahead of the final at the end of 2024.
It was a disastrous start to the PFL career for 40-year-old Vassell, who ran out of gas against Russia's Goltsov.
Vassell was on a five-game winning streak heading into this fight.
Vassell came out on top in the first round, scoring a double leg takedown on Goltsov and eventually going up to full mount and raining punches down on him.
It looked like the finish was close, but Goltsov made a spectacular comeback and saved his life.
Goltsov continued to perform well in the second round, and the fight went into the final round with a one-round draw.
However, Vassell was clearly tired, conceding an easy takedown and continuing to do damage in defensive positions over the course of three minutes.
Vassell could barely defend himself and the referee had no choice but to stop the fight.
