Ditcheva Outclasses Inaba Despite Hand Injury

Dakota Ditcheva shrugged disconnected an injured manus arsenic she outclassed Sumiko Inaba to triumph by unanimous determination astatine nan PFL Champions Series successful South Africa.

The Manchester combatant ne'er looked successful threat arsenic she pummelled Inaba throughout, earlier easing disconnected successful nan last information aft telling her area "I've surgery my hand".

Inaba couldn't capitalise arsenic Ditcheva cruised to nan last bell, utilizing kicks to support nan American astatine bay arsenic she extended nan unbeaten commencement to her profession to 15.

"I deliberation I injured my near hand. I deliberation I'm gutted because I've been retired for truthful agelong and past I'm injured again, but I dream you guys enjoyed it," said a teary Ditcheva.

The bout was nan 26-year-old's first successful 8 months aft becoming nan first British female to triumph an MMA world title successful November.

Ditcheva had voiced her frustrations pre-fight astatine nan eight-month lay-off but confirmed aft beating Inaba she has signed a caller woody pinch nan PFL.

"I person conscionable re-signed pinch PFL, we've travel to a awesome statement and I'm gonna look guardant to nan adjacent fewer years together successful beforehand of crowds for illustration this. You guys really group a standard," she revealed.

The conflict paper was besides nan first awesome MMA arena to return spot successful Africa and Ditcheva paid tribute to nan crowd, adding "that was nan champion walkout I've ever had, convey you truthful much".

Ditcheva had been vocal astir her clip distant from nan cage successful nan build-up to nan bout, blaming a deficiency of reliable opponents for nan delay.

She cruised done nan PFL flyweight tourney past twelvemonth pinch 4 consecutive stoppages and, pinch galore of her opponents fighting successful this year's competition, saw small worth successful entering it again.

She was yet paired up pinch Inaba based connected nan 34-year-old winning 8 of her 9 master bouts, while Ditcheva added "there is nary denying her accomplishment level".

Although Inaba showed courageousness and admirable durability throughout, nan Briton remained a people above.

Inaba started by pushing guardant but it didn't return agelong for Ditcheva to initiate nan clinch and return power - arsenic she would passim nan conflict - to onshore a number of damaging knees.

She stunned Inaba successful nan 2nd information pinch an elbow and flurry of strikes, but Inaba showed grit to return nan flyweight champion to nan 3rd information for nan first clip successful six bouts.

With nan crowd chanting her name, Ditcheva landed much crunching knees from nan clinch earlier adopting a much observant attack aft injuring her manus aft a punch.

Inaba was already excessively worn down to return advantage, however, arsenic her force utilized kicks to support region earlier showboating and cupping her ears to nan crowd successful victory.

In nan main event, Spain's Costello van Steenis hit American Johnny Eblen to triumph nan PFL middleweight title successful a singular finish.

With Eblen seemingly heading towards a determination victory, Van Steenis secured a rear-naked choke, forcing nan submission pinch conscionable 9 seconds of nan bout remaining.