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Dakota Ditcheva responds to Liz Carmouche, complaints about her being the ‘diva of the division’ in PFL

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1 month ago

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Dakota Ditcheva responds to Liz Carmouche, complaints about her being the ‘diva of the division’ in PFL

Dakota Ditcheva has arguably become the face of the PFL, but with that level of celebrity comes scrutiny, whether it's valid or not.

Originally scheduled to compete in February after recovering from an injury, Ditcheva was supposed to face Bellator veteran Denise Kielholtz, which wasn't exactly on the top of anybody's wish list with-top ranked flyweight contender Liz Carmouche lingering out there as the biggest and best possible challenger. Sadly, Ditcheva suffered another injury that delayed her comeback until Friday's PFL event in New York where she's once again matched up against Kielholtz rather than Carmouche.

But Ditcheva makes it clear that just like when she was fighting in February, she didn't ask for anybody specifically as an opponent and she refutes any criticism that she's getting special treatment due to her growing popularity.

“I didn't choose this,†Ditcheva told MMA Fighting. “PFL came to me and said ‘do you want to fight Denise?' People talk about me being this golden child and the diva of the division type of thing. I don't ever pick my opponents. I let PFL come to me with whoever they want to put me against and I think they felt like Denise made sense. The whole division has been busy without me. There's a lot of new girls in the division now. I had to fit in with them. I can't be out for a year and then come back and say I want this and this and this.

“I just came back and said I'm ready to fight, they said let's give Denise the fight she was promised. She won her fight in Dubai so it makes sense and that's just what I went with. If they gave me anyone else, I would have been like OK. I just fight whoever they give me.â€

When it comes to a potential showdown against Carmouche in the future, Ditcheva openly admits that's the ideal matchup for the flyweight division, especially if a championship is involved.

That said, Ditcheva scoffed at the idea that she's avoiding Carmouche or that the PFL is protecting her from a fight she's somehow destined to lose.

“Liz has had her comments but if we end up fighting, we end up fighting,†Ditcheva said. “That's not something I'm avoiding at all. If that's the fight that's made next, that's the fight you will see.

“As regards to the belt, no one's got the belt yet and I am not bothered if I fight for it or not. Because as long as I beat whoever they give me and I'm sat at the top, I don't really care. I would fight Liz for no belt as long as I'm fighting for my No. 1 spot. I feel like my No. 1 spot is more important than the belt for me.â€

Ditcheva admits trash talking has never been her thing so she didn't really pay too much attention to anything that Carmouche has said during her absence.

But Ditcheva has heard past opponents say plenty of crazy things trying to get under her skin and thus far nobody has been remotely successful. She doesn't expect that to change for Carmouche or anybody else for that matter.

“It just sounds so familiar to everyone else,†Ditcheva said. “At this point, I'm just like I'm sure Liz is a really nice lady. But I'm not bothered by the whole trash talk thing. I'm not bothered about speaking bad on Liz.

“Props to her. Great fighter. If we end up fighting, we end up fighting but until then you're not getting any air time out of me.â€

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MMA

Security breaks up heated hotel run-in between undefeated UFC rivals

Published

3 hours ago

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September 10, 2026

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Security breaks up heated hotel run-in between undefeated UFC rivals
Security had to separate Tommy
McMillen and Marwan
Rahiki during their run-in at the fighter hotel days before
their clash.

McMillen (11-0) and Rahiki (9-0) are set to collide in a highly
anticipated matchup of undefeated
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweights at
Noche UFC 4 on Sept. 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale,
Arizona.

Tommy McMillen details altercation with Marwan Rahiki before
Noche UFC 4

Bad blood is brewing between the two unbeaten 145-pounder prospects
and they've taken several shots at one another before fight week.
McMillen previously said he's ready to brawl with Rahiki in a
parking lot and doubts whether the Moroccan would be ready to do
the same.

The American now claims to have already had a run-in with Rahiki
inside an elevator at the fighter hotel. McMillen says he was with
his brother and his striking coach when he met Rahiki, who had
eight teammates with him.

“I popped up here in the elevator and that's the first kid I saw,â€
McMillen said at Noche UFC 4 media day. “He was there with eight of
his teammates and I'm sitting here with my little brother Jono and
my striking coach, JJ. I got right in his face; he tried to touch
me, I pushed him right out of my face. I told him he looks like a
scrawny little b*tch, Saturday night I'm gonna make him look like
my little brother… Security had to break it up. I don't like that
kid; he doesn't like me. He thinks it's all fun and games. I'm the
kid that would actually fight this kid in a parking lot. He's not
like that at all; he's a p*ssy. I'd assume he's not stupid enough
to think this is an act. I kind of just punked him in the elevator
with eight of his friends and showed him it's not an act. I'll
fight him in front of his whole f*cking team. This kid's not on the
same level as me.â€

Footage of the altercation shows both parties trading barbs and
gently shoving each other while officials try to separate them.
Both McMillen and Rahiki have two finishes each in as many UFC
outings. While McMillen has finished 10 of his 11 career wins,
Rahiki has never seen the judges' scorecards in his nine career
wins.


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MMA

UFC fighter says he cant see opponents clearly until they get close

Published

6 hours ago

on

September 9, 2026

By

UFC fighter says he can't see opponents clearly until they get close
Kurtis
Campbell can't see his opponents clearly inside the
Octagon.

Campbell wears considerably thick-lensed glasses when out of
competition. The Liverpool native seems to be heavily dependent on
them, putting them back on immediately after his fights. Campbell
recently revealed that his eyesight is poor and that his opponents
appear blurry to him until they get close.

Kurtis Campbell explains why his UFC opponents appear blurry
across the Octagon

While Campbell tried contact lenses when he was young, he was too
nervous to put them in. The
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight eventually got
used to fighting without contact lenses and prefers it this way
now.

“My eyesight is really bad, but at the same time I love my
glasses,†Campbell told Ariel Helwani. “I would never change them…
I tried contacts when I was younger, but I was always too nervous;
I couldn't put them in. So, I got used to fighting without them and
I don't think I've ever gone back since. I've always preferred it
that way… Because of how big the UFC cage is, [my opponent] is
blurry and then once we get closer, it gets a little better.â€

Campbell (9-1) earned his UFC contract with a first-round technical
knockout win on
Dana White's Contender Series last year. He then suffered a
knockout loss to Danny Silva
in his UFC debut in London this past March. “The Pink Pantherâ€
rebounded with a dominant submission win over Trevor Peek
at
UFC Paris.

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MMA

Taylor Lapilus vs. Mitch McKee to crown bantamweight champion in last PFL event

Published

9 hours ago

on

September 9, 2026

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Taylor Lapilus vs. Mitch McKee to crown bantamweight champion in last PFL event

PFL will crown its bantamweight champion on Dec. 19 in Lyon, France, when Taylor Lapilus faces off with Mitch McKee for the inaugural 135-pound belt in the main event of the last PFL card before merging with MVP in 2027, the promotion announced Wednesday.

Lapilus (25-4) won four in a row under the PFL banner after parting ways with the UFC on a two-fight winning streak, topping Jake Hadley in his most recent bout this past May. The 34-year-old French bantamweight was victorious in six of eight bouts over two stints in the UFC.

“My whole career has led to this moment,†Lapilus stated in a release. “I'm here to become champion, leave my mark on this sport, and cement my legacy. And when I look back, I want to know I was part of the moment everything changed for French MMA. This is more than a title fight. This is history in the making.â€

McKee (11-0) is a decorated wrestler and undefeated MMA prospect who earned a shot at the PFL gold after beating former Bellator titleholder Sergio Pettis via decision in April, his first appearance under the company's banner after a successful 8-0 run in LFA.

“Fighting for a PFL world title is exactly why I came here,†McKee said. “Taylor is a great fighter, he's experienced, and I know fighting him in France means I'm walking into his backyard. I wouldn't want it any other way. I've believed from day one that I'm the best bantamweight in the PFL, and in December I get the opportunity to prove it. I'm going to Lyon to bring that belt home.â€

The final four PFL shows before the transition under the MVP name are scheduled for Oct. 16 in Chicago, followed by a pair of November events before the last trip to Lyon.

“Lyon has become one of the great fight cities in the world, and the energy French fans bring for their athletes is palpable,†MVP CEO John Martin stated in a release. “On December 19, fans will have the opportunity to see one of their own fight for a world championship as Taylor Lapilus takes on the biggest test of his career in the undefeated Mitch McKee. … The night will also mark a major milestone for our company as the final event under the PFL banner before we move forward as MVP in 2027. I can't think of a better city or a better stage for it.â€

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