So there I was rewatching Dakota Ditcheva’s old fights tonight, coffee cold next to me. Man, those knockouts never get old. Grabbed my notebook like always – gotta write down what makes her special before I forget.
First Thing I Did
Clicked replay of that 2022 fight against that tall striker chick. Saw Dakota eat two jabs early. My knee started bouncing watching it – knew what was coming. She ducked real low, swung that left hook HARD from her hip. Boom! Other girl folded like cheap lawn chair. Wrote down “NASTY ANGLE – LIKE BASEBALL BAT SWING” in all caps. Hand actually shook a little writing it.
Next Clip I Pulled Up
Remembered that 2023 cage-side camera footage. Dakota trapped near the fence looking tired. Suddenly her eyes went laser-focus. Threw three punches so fast: jab-jab-BACKFIST. Crowd went dead silent for half second before screaming. Dropped my pen grabbing the laptop screen yelling “SHE FAKED BEING GASSED!” Wrote “BACKFIST TRAP – PLAYED POSSUM” with like three exclamation points.
Then I Rewatched That Body Shot
That 2024 tournament fight? Opponent kept high guard. Dakota feinted high then WHAM – liver shot. You could actually hear the wind leaving her lungs on broadcast mic. Watched it five times straight. My own stomach hurt seeing it. Scribbled “SOUND DESIGN MATTERS – MIC PICKED UP GROAN”.
Fourth One Made Me Cringe Hard
Pulled up the standing choke knockout from earlier this year. Thought it was fluke live. Slow-mo showed Dakota step on foot FIRST. Textbook trap – opponent pulls head back, Dakota’s elbow floats up perfectly under chin. Watched frame-by-frame till my eyes burned. Wrote “FOOT STOMP + ELBOW = GENIUS DIRTY BOXING”. Left coffee rings all over that page.
Finished With The Head Kick
Saved the spinning kick from her last fight. Cold-blooded. Dakota pushed forward all round, made opponent think pressure was coming. Suddenly spins 360 degrees like tornado. Foot met chin clean. Rewound that kick twenty times? Thirty? Lost count. Hands went sweaty holding laptop. Final note: “PATIENCE – SPIN ONLY AFTER MAKING THEM BLINK”. Practiced the spin motion in my kitchen – nearly knocked over microwave.
So yeah. Coffee’s long gone cold. Six notebook pages covered in my trash handwriting. But man – seeing how she sets traps? Changes levels? Turns defense into offense mid-swing? Better than any textbook. Now excuse me – my neck hurts from nodding watching replays.
