'I've cried non-stop' - Ditcheva breaks both hands again - bbc.com
MMA fighter Dakota Ditcheva has suffered a setback after breaking both of her hands during a recent victory. Despite the injury, she managed to win her fight by unanimous decision, though she now faces a recovery period.
Why it matters
The injury highlights the physical toll of professional combat sports and the career risks associated with recurring injuries.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Dakota Ditcheva (right) outstruck Dutch fighter Kielholtz 102-64
Dakota Ditcheva says she has "cried non-stop" after breaking both of her hands in the win over Denise Kielholtz - just months after recovering from similar injuries.
The Briton outclassed Kielholtz at PFL New York earlier this month to win by unanimous decision in her first fight in just over a year.
The 28-year-old had not fought since July 2025 as a result of breaking her left hand - then suffered a fracture in her other hand five months later.
Despite comfortably beating Kielholtz on her return, Ditcheva says she fought the majority of the contest with two broken hands.
"I broke my hands in the fight. I could feel it from the second I started the second round," she said on YouTube. , external
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