Dan Hardy Believes PFL‘s Dakota Ditcheva Could Instantly Challenge Valentina Shevchenko
Dakota Ditcheva, the reigning PFL champion, is rapidly establishing herself as a standout star in women’s MMA, and according too veteran analyst and former UFC fighter Dan Hardy (@danhardymma), her potential extends to challenging the very best in the sport, even current UFC Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Hardy believes Ditcheva’s combination of striking power,aggression,and physical stature – allowing her to match up well with anyone – already positions her as a legitimate threat to the entire flyweight division. “I’d bet on her against Valentina right now,” Hardy told MMA Fighting. “With all due respect to Valentina,who I’ve always held in high regard. What always struck me about Valentina when I worked for the UFC was the lack of truly memorable moments in her fights.They were very controlled, and that’s because she dominates with a relentless pace.”
Hardy argues that Ditcheva possesses the type of ferocious attacking style needed to disrupt shevchenko’s rythm.”The kind of person who would break that style is someone who attacks with ferocity. dakota, such as, has the height, reach, power, and ferocity. And the reality is,American top Team is one of the toughest training grounds,especially for a fighter.”
While Ditcheva’s grappling hasn’t been extensively tested in her undefeated PFL run, Hardy is confident in her ability to defend herself against any approach, including Shevchenko’s takedown attempts, as demonstrated in shevchenko’s recent victory over Alexa Grasso. ”I expect her to at least stay firm on the floor with Valentina, or even defend against the takedowns,” Hardy stated. “I think Dakota beats anyone in her category right now… I think she has a lot of potential to even move up to bantamweight and be very triumphant.”
Ditcheva recently showcased her power with a second-round knockout of former UFC title challenger taila Santos, who previously gave Shevchenko a closely contested fight. Hardy views Ditcheva as a complete fighter,capable of dismantling opponents nonetheless of their experience.
“She has the ideal build to be an explosive force in mixed martial arts,” Hardy explained. “She has the range to attack, can be imposing like Anderson Silva was with his clinch work, and is physiologically and skillfully prepared. She could be a fantastic Muay Thai fighter, but her skills wouldn’t be as effective if she were shorter, around 1.57 meters.”
Hardy also highlighted Ditcheva’s early career stage as a potentially daunting prospect for her opponents. “She’s still at the beginning of her career, which is a little scary. She’s already accomplished so much, and that’s why I believe flyweight could be her future, as she can easily adjust her game and add even more power to her frame.”
