Dakota Ditcheva Suffers Hand Injury During PFL New York Victory

Dakota Ditcheva sustained a hand injury during her decision victory against Denise Kielholtz at PFL New York, which took place on July 31 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. She announced on YouTube that she will need surgery to address the injury.

Despite the pain, Ditcheva fought for two and a half rounds without informing her corner about the injury. She revealed that the issue originated from a previous fracture she opted not to surgically repair last year, which led to a smaller fracture occurring during the fight. Although she won all three rounds on the judges' scorecards, she noted that this was the first time she failed to secure a finish in her career.

Ditcheva is currently awaiting guidance from her surgeon regarding her recovery process. She expressed emotional distress over the injury but remains determined to continue her career. This setback leaves the PFL without one of its prominent fighters for an extended period, especially following lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov's recent entry into free agency.