TLDR
- Dakota Ditcheva responded to Cris Cyborg’s callout by questioning the fight’s practicality due to weight class differences
- Ditcheva said she would need ‘big money’ to accept the fight and claims she would be the one selling it
- Cyborg insisted she can make 135 pounds for a fall 2026 superfight as her retirement bout
- Ditcheva suggested Cyborg should fight Leah McCourt instead, who has been requesting the match
- Ditcheva is recovering from a broken hand and hopes to return to competition in April or May
Sources: Infonasional | MMA Mania | MMA Fighting
Dakota Ditcheva has finally responded to Cris Cyborg’s callout for a superfight, making it clear that her hesitation has nothing to do with fear. The undefeated PFL flyweight champion addressed the challenge during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show on January 13.
“I was honored to be called out, but I just feel like it didn’t make very much sense,” Ditcheva told Helwani. “If Cyborg could make 135 and she had a bit more time — she’s saying it’s her last fight — I don’t have the time to put that much weight on because I’m not a big 125er.”
Ditcheva made it clear she would need proper compensation to make the fight happen. “If she was even close to 135 and you paid me some big money, hell yeah, I’d get in there — but it just didn’t make sense,” she said.
Ditcheva Claims She Would Sell the Fight
The 27-year-old fighter pushed back against the idea that Cyborg would be doing her a favor by offering the matchup. She argued that she would be the one bringing value to the superfight.
“Respectfully, she’s not giving the fight … I am,” Ditcheva said. “I’d 100 percent be the one who sells that fight more. It would be a super fight, but she’s calling me out like she’s picking me. She needs me. It’s big because of me.”
Ditcheva also suggested that Cyborg should consider fighting Leah McCourt instead. McCourt has been requesting a fight with the Brazilian legend for years.
Cyborg Responds With Weight Cut Promise
Cyborg quickly fired back on social media after Ditcheva’s comments went public. The 40-year-old featherweight champion insisted she can make the 135-pound weight limit for a fall 2026 superfight.
“Super fights take two people. I can make 135 for a superfight in the fall,” Cyborg wrote on social media. “I’m 40. My body carries much less muscle than it did when I struggled to make 140. I won’t miss weight for my retirement fight.”
Cyborg has never officially competed at 135 pounds in her career. She made 140 pounds twice during her UFC run, but those weight cuts were notoriously difficult for the Brazilian champion.
The veteran fighter won the PFL featherweight title in December at PFL Lyon by submitting Sara Collins in the third round. Cyborg has stated that 2026 will be her final year competing in mixed martial arts.
Ditcheva is currently recovering from a broken hand that forced her to withdraw from PFL Dubai in February. The British fighter captured the 2024 PFL flyweight tournament championship and remains undefeated with a 15-0 record.
She hopes to return to competition in April or May. Whether PFL can bridge the gap between the two fighters and make the superfight happen remains to be seen.
