Ditcheva surprised at favourite tag before historic title bid

Dakota Ditcheva says she is surprised to be the favourite as she bids to become the first British woman to win a mixed martial arts world title.

Manchester's Ditcheva will face Tailia Santos from Brazil for the Professional Fighter's League (PFL) flyweight belt and $1m (£789,000) prize in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday.

Unbeaten Ditcheva, 26, is tipped to win against former UFC flyweight title challenger Santos, ending Britain's wait for a first female world champion.

"I know who I'm up against, I used to watch her in a different promotion and I'm impressed by her. I'm a bit surprised but I think people are realising what I'm capable of now," said Ditcheva.

There have only been five British MMA world champions and all were men.

Michael Bisping (middleweight), Leon Edwards (welterweight) and Tom Aspinall (interim-heavyweight) have won UFC titles, while Liam McGeary (light-heavyweight) is a former Bellator champion.

Meanwhile, Brendan Loughnane - who fights Russia's Timur Khizriev in the featherweight main event, has the chance to become Britain's first two-time MMA world champion after winning the PFL title in 2022.

"It's going to be a massive moment. I'm gonna be PFL world champion and it will be an amazing milestone for me," Ditcheva earlier told the PFL.

"And this is just the start, that's why I say milestone. It's just the start of an amazing journey for me."

Former Muay Thai world champion Ditcheva has had a remarkable beginning to her career since transitioning to MMA.

She is undefeated, winning 12 of her professional bouts via stoppage, and won last season's PFL Europe flyweight championship.

In reaching the final against Santos, Ditcheva has won three fights this year, all via first-round knockout.

Ditcheva's performances have helped turn her into arguably the biggest female star in the promotion.

"I definitely do have the spotlight on me. I feel like it's everything my performances deserve but at the same time I do feel a little guilty," said Ditcheva.

"I do get a bit of hate for the attention I get. But my highlights are interesting to watch, my striking is what excites people, so I feel my hard work is building that attention."

In former UFC flyweight title challenger Santos, however, Ditcheva is expected to face the toughest test of her career.

The 31-year-old is unbeaten since joining the PFL, winning three fights including victory over Bellator flyweight champion Liz Carmouche in August to reach the final.

The event continues Saudi Arabia's multi-billion pound investment in sport, but the country continues to face criticisms for using it to divert attention away from its poor human rights record - a process dubbed 'sportswashing'.

British MMA has enjoyed a wave of success in the past two years with Edwards, Aspinall and Loughnane all claiming titles.

The effect those champions have had on the growth of the sport in Britain can't be understated, but now Ditcheva has the chance to raise the bar again.

Youngsters have had a handful of gifted British women's fighters to look up to over the years, including Molly McCann, Joanne Wood and Cory McKenna, but none have fought for a world title.

Now Ditcheva has the chance to be the key player in a landmark moment, shining the spotlight on British women in the sport in the same vein that her male compatriot title holders have.

What's equally as exciting is Ditcheva's potential.

She already has 11 knockouts - more than some women get during the their entire MMA careers, and she is only 26 years old.

There is no doubt Santos will provide the sternest test yet for Ditcheva but if she is victorious, the sky is the limit.