Taila Santos believes Dakota Ditcheva was given a a lot simpler path to the PFL Playoffs.
Each Santos, who as soon as gave Valentina Shevchenko a run for her cash contained in the Octagon, and Ditcheva are one win away from advancing to the PFL flyweight closing. Santos has gone 2-0 since making her Good Cage debut earlier this 12 months, defeating Ilara Joanne and Jena Bishop through the common season.
However regardless of her personal success, the one-time UFC title challenger believes Ditcheva was handed extra favorable matchups to safe her spot within the closing 4.
“The fights they have been giving her at first, it’s fairly clear they have been giving her a simple run so she may make it to the finals,” Santos informed MMA Preventing. “That’s why I mentioned I wish to present her what an actual struggle is all about, a troublesome struggle. I fought robust fights for the reason that starting and I don’t care. That’s precisely what I would like. I wish to robust fights to point out I’m one of the best.”
Ditcheva scored the No. 1 seed within the playoffs with wins over Lisa Mauldin, a 6-5 fighter from California, and Chelsea Hackett, a 4-3-1 Aussie who made an look on Dana White’s Contender Collection in 2020. Ditcheva earned her manner into this 12 months’s common season after successful the PFL Europe Championship in 2023, working by three opponents with a mixed file of 13-10.
In the meantime, Santos has greater than confirmed herself by going 5 rounds with former UFC flyweight titleholder Valentina Shevchenko and incomes wins over the likes of Joanne Wooden, Roxanne Modafferi, Molly McCann, and Gillian Robertson.
Although she’s on no account trying previous her subsequent opponent, Santos can’t assist however salivate over the thought of assembly Ditcheva within the match closing.
“It’s going to be actually to have each of us attending to this closing and combating one another,” Santos mentioned. “I simply wish to be within the closing and face whoever, however it will be fairly attention-grabbing to struggle her. I would like to struggle Dakota as a result of followers would love this one. Individuals are speaking about this struggle, and I wish to present her what an actual struggle is like. It could be thrilling. I’m very excited to face her, actually.”
Taila Santos must undergo ladies’s MMA legend liz Carmouche if she desires to fulfill Ditcheva within the flyweight closing
However to get there, Taila Santos must get previous two-time UFC title challenger and present Bellator flyweight ladies’s champion, Liz Carmouche.
“It’s an unbelievable struggle. All respect to her, an unbelievable athlete as nicely, a veteran, and it’s an honor for me to struggle her,” Santos mentioned. “I’m very versatile as a fighter, though I grew up coaching Muay Thai earlier than coaching jiu-jitsu and wrestling and all the things else. I really feel tremendous comfy in all areas in the present day. I prefer it loads, and I do know she tries to grapple extra, to again her opponents towards the cage and impose her sport. It’s going to be a really attention-grabbing sport.”
As for the way she sees issues enjoying out in Ditcheva’s semi-final scrap with Jena Bishop, Santos isn’t completely satisfied that the Manchester native will get the job executed.
“I feel it’s going to be shut,” Santos mentioned. “It received’t be a simple struggle for both of them. If Jena can shut the gap and take her down shortly and never give Dakota area on the ft — Dakota is aware of her to make use of her attain and she or he’s highly effective. Jena shocked me, she’s actually robust and I wasn’t anticipating that. She’s very skilled, so she will be able to win this if she will be able to shut the gap.”
“I got here right here to win this belt,” Santos added. “I’m able to go to the ultimate and win, irrespective of who I’m combating there. I’m right here to struggle one of the best.”
