DAKOTA DITCHEVA CLAIMS TOP PFL PLAYOFF SEED IN WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT DIVISION

DAKOTA DITCHEVA CLAIMS TOP PFL PLAYOFF SEED IN WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT DIVISION FOLLOWING DOMINANT PERFORMANCE

2024 PFL Heavyweight Semifinals
#1 Denis Goltsov vs. #4 Tim Johnson
#2 Oleg Popov vs. #3 Valentin Moldavsky

2024 PFL Global Season action continues Friday June 21 from Salt Lake City, Utah across ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – June 13, 2024 – The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, resumed 2024 PFL Global Season action live from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The eleven-fight card featured the Heavyweight and Women’s Flyweight divisions, with eight fighters earning 2024 PFL Playoff berths.

The evening’s co-main event featured Dakota Ditcheva and Chelsea Hackett in a Women’s Flyweight bout. Ditcheva turned in another spectacular performance with a first round TKO victory. Ditcheva remained undefeated at 12-0, earned her tenth career knockout, and clinched the top Playoff seed in the division.

Valentin Moldavsky entered the PFL SmartCage in a highly anticipated trilogy matchup against Linton Vassell. After three punishing rounds, Vassell earned a split decision victory and is now 2-1 against his foe. Although he did not come out on top tonight, Moldavsky heads to the 2024 PFL Global Season Playoffs.

Denis Golstov and Thiago Santos squared off in Heavyweight Season action, with a trip to the 2024 PFL Global Season Playoffs on the line. Golstov was all business, finishing Santos in the first round via TKO and punching his ticket to his fifth career PFL postseason.

In Women’s Flyweight action, former Bellator Women’s Flyweight Champion Liz Carmouche and Kana Watanabe squared off in an exciting rematch. The contest was even going into the third round and looked to be headed to the judges scorecards before Carmouche locked in an armbar submission with eight seconds remaining, clinching a 2024 PFL Global Season Playoff berth in dramatic fashion.

“The 2024 PFL Global Season resumed this evening with the highest of stakes as the Heavyweight and Women’s Flyweight divisions looked to secure 2024 PFL Global Playoff berths and continue their million dollar journeys,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “The PFL is the only organization in which the athletes and fans know what is needed to advance; which provides for the best action and unparalleled synergy with the audience.”

“Tonight in Connecticut we saw our world-class PFL athletes fight their way to the PFL Playoffs,” said Ray Sefo, President of Fighter Operations at PFL. “We look forward to next week’s action in Salt Lake City. It is officially time to win or go home.”

Taila Santos and Jena Bishop met in Women’s Flyweight action, with both having a viable shot at a berth in the 2024 PFL Playoffs. Both women left it all in the PFL SmartCage for three rounds, with Santos coming out victorious by split decision and clinching a Playoff spot in her first PFL Season.

Oleg Popov defeated Davion Franklin by unanimous decision in a Heavyweight Global Season matchup. Popov extended his winning streak to 16, the longest Heavyweight winning streak in MMA, and clinched a 2024 PFL Playoff berth in his first PFL Season.

Marcelo Golm and Tyrell Fortune duked it out in Heavyweight division action, with the bout going the three round distance. Fortune took the unanimous decision win and secured three points in the Global Season standings.

In PFL Global Season Women’s Flyweight action, Ilara Joanne and Shanna Young traded blows for three rounds, but it was Joanne who earned a victory via unanimous decision and three points for the win.

In Heavyweight PFL Global Season action, Tim Johnson made quick work of Danilo Marques scoring a first round TKO. Johnson is now 18-9 with ten career knockouts. Johnson, who took the fight on short notice, earned six points and a trip to the 2024 PFL Global Season Playoffs.

In an exciting PFL Global Season Women’s Flyweight bout, Juliana Velasquez used her striking prowess to TKO Lisa Mauldin in the second round. Velasquez is now 13-3 with her fifth career knockout.

Kicking off the night in a PFL Women’s Flyweight Showcase bout, Sumiko Inaba defeated Saray Orozco by split decision. Inaba moved her career record to 7-1 in her PFL debut.

2024 PFL Global Season continues Friday, June 21 from Salt Lake City, Utah with Light Heavyweight and Lightweight action across ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally.

All 2024 PFL Global Season events are live across ESPN platforms in the U.S. and DAZN in Canada and Europe with additional international premium sports platform distribution reaching 150 countries globally.

COMPLETE RESULTS

PFL Uncasville Main Card Results:
Linton Vassell (24-9) def. Valentin Moldavsky (13-3, 1NC) by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Dakota Ditcheva (11-0) def. Chelsea Hackett (4-2-1) by 1st round TKO (3:22)
Denis Goltsov (34-8) def. Thiago Santos (22-13, 1NC) by 1st round TKO (2:22)
Liz Carmouche (22-7) def. Kana Wantanabe (13-3-1) by 3rd round submission (4:52)

Early Card Results:
Taila Santos (21-3) def. Jena Bishop (7-1) by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Oleg Popov (18-1) def. Davion Franklin (6-3) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
Tyrell Fortune (14-2) def. Marcelo Golm (10-6) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Ilara Joanne (12-9) def. Shanna Young (9-7) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Tim Johnson (18-9) def. Danilo Marques (15-6)  by 1st round TKO (3:14)
Juliana Velasquez (13-3) def. Lisa Mauldin (6-5) by 2nd round TKO (1:30)
Sumiko Inaba (7-1) def. Saray Orozco (8-6) by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

x-clinched
e-eliminated

x-clinched
e-eliminated

*Young missed weight – 1-point penalty applied to total points earned in fight

PFL is the only organization in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight-class, the same percentage as UFC. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S, DAZN in Canada and Europe and is broadcast and streamed in 160 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.