Dakota Ditcheva: How injury changed her outlook on fighting and life beyond MMA

Ditcheva has been a dominant force in the organisation, winning all 10 of her fights and securing seven of those victories in the opening round.

That has led to suggestions that a move to the UFC could be on the horizon, though Ditcheva told BBC Sport she still has five fights remaining on her contract.

But earlier this month, Ditcheva’s manager said her current PFL deal would make her one of the highest-paid female fighters in the UFC.

“I’m enjoying my career. I’m living a good life. I’m changing my family’s life here at the PFL, and I feel like it is suiting me right now,” Ditcheva said.

“Will I go over to the UFC one day? I don’t know. Maybe that’s not in my plan any more. Maybe I’ll box. I don’t know.”

On Thursday, the PFL announced it had agreed to merge with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions – making staying put an even more attractive prospect.

That opens the door to potentially moving into the sphere of boxing and could also produce opportunities of super-fights in MMA.

“You see every fighter say they want to go to the UFC, and that used to be me,” Ditcheva said.

“I don’t know whether it is any more. I feel like my goals are changing all the time, and the opportunities I’m getting I’m really enjoying.

“Is the UFC the be-all and end-all? I don’t know any more.

“It’s not something that will ever define me. If I end my career and I have never been to the UFC, nobody is going to make me feel bad online about it.

“If I end my career having been undefeated, I’m still undefeated and the number one flyweight whether I go to the UFC or not.”