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 remaining. Santos has gone 2-0 since making her Sensible Cage debut earlier this yr, 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 remaining 4.
“The fights they have been giving her at first, it’s fairly clear they have been giving her a straightforward run so she may make it to the finals,” Santos informed MMA Preventing. “That’s why I mentioned I need to present her what an actual battle is all about, a troublesome battle. I fought robust fights for the reason that starting and I don’t care. That’s precisely what I need. I need 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 Sequence in 2020. Ditcheva earned her manner into this yr’s common season after profitable the PFL Europe Championship in 2023, operating via three opponents with a mixed document 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 certainly not wanting previous her subsequent opponent, Santos can’t assist however salivate over the thought of assembly Ditcheva within the match remaining.
“It’s going to be actually to have each of us attending to this remaining and preventing one another,” Santos mentioned. “I simply need to be within the remaining and face whoever, however it could be fairly attention-grabbing to battle her. I would like to battle Dakota as a result of followers would love this one. Persons are speaking about this battle, and I need to present her what an actual battle is like. It might 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 remaining
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 unimaginable battle. All respect to her, an unimaginable athlete as nicely, a veteran, and it’s an honor for me to battle 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 pieces else. I really feel tremendous snug 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 recreation. It’s going to be a really attention-grabbing recreation.”
As for a way she sees issues enjoying out in Ditcheva’s semi-final scrap with Jena Bishop, Santos isn’t fully satisfied that the Manchester native will get the job carried out.
“I believe it’s going to be shut,” Santos mentioned. “It received’t be a straightforward battle for both of them. If Jena can shut the gap and take her down shortly and never give Dakota house on the toes — Dakota is aware of her to make use of her attain and he or she’s highly effective. Jena shocked me, she’s actually sturdy and I wasn’t anticipating that. She’s very skilled, so she will win this if she will 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 preventing there. I’m right here to battle one of the best.”
