Dakota Ditcheva didn’t expect to see her name on the world’s biggest podcast. But, in between jokes about untrained guys underestimating female fighters, Joe Rogan brought her up, and the unbeaten PFL star became popular for reasons other than her highlight reels.
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The clip sparked debate. Some praised Joe Rogan for highlighting a fighter outside of the UFC. Many questioned how the podcaster framed it, leading with her looks before her violence. Either way, Ditcheva’s name was in the air. And she’s finally addressed it.
Dakota Ditcheva reacts to Joe Rogan’s viral shout-out
“Have you seen that really pretty girl that fights in the PFL?” Rogan said on his podcast. “What’s her name? Dakota Ditcheva? She’s from England. Most of her fights are wins by knockout.
She’s this Muay Thai specialist, but she’s pretty. F—- these girls up. F—- these girls up.”
For Dakota Ditcheva, the moment came out of nowhere. And while many expected her to be offended by Joe Rogan’s words, it was quite the opposite.
“He did; I was very surprised. To be honest,” she said in a recent interview. “When someone commented on my photo and said, they commented underneath my Instagram post and said, ‘Joe Rogan just shouted you out,’ and I was thinking, ‘Are they messing with me?’
And then I got loads of messages. I was like, wow, like, what a compliment to get. And I was super happy with that.”
Dakota Ditcheva responds after Joe Rogan praises her on the show: “She’s a Muay Thai specialist, but she’s pretty, and she just f*cks these girls up.” pic.twitter.com/W5sTfmoEJs
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) February 17, 2026
While some fighters would have objected to the language, ‘Dangerous’ decided to see the upside. At 15-0 and with a reputation built on Muay Thai precision and knockout finishes, she’s long battled the notion that her appearance lessens the perception of her skill.
Joe Rogan’s point, as clumsy as some thought it was, was that she surprises people. And that surprise usually ends badly for the fighter across from her. In fact, when asked if she would ever come on The Joe Rogan Experience, she simply replied, “Yeah, maybe.”
For a fighter who’s struggled recently with injuries and booking delays, the shout-out was timely. Whether controversial or not, it served as a reminder to fans—and promoters—that Dakota Ditcheva is more than just “pretty.” She is dangerous, and PFL’s Dan Hardy predicts big change in her future.
Dan Hardy expects Ditcheva to be the face of PFL
If Joe Rogan’s shout-out reminded people of Dakota Ditcheva’s skills, Dan Hardy believes the next step is much bigger. In his opinion, it’s not just about viral videos or knockout highlights; it’s about positioning. The lead PFL color commentator sees her as one of the long-term pillars of the promotion, someone they can build around if timing and health align.
Hardy told MMA Junkie, “It’s not ideal. A hand injury is never a good thing for a fighter.
The best thing she can do is make sure she can take the time to get it fixed properly, and she’s not rushing into start hitting things again with it.”
For him, the concern isn’t momentum—it’s longevity. In fact, Dakota Ditcheva herself has not hidden how stressful the layoff has been.
“I cried this week—I’ve been that upset, honestly,” she said during a recent PFL broadcast.
That honesty just strengthens Dan Hardy’s belief that when ‘Dangerous’ returns, the moment will matter. Whether it’s a fight with Liz Carmouche at flyweight or a future move to bantamweight, the PFL commentator sees a ceiling that few others in the division can match. And if that prediction comes true, Ditcheva will not only be a breakout star, she’ll be the face of the company.