The very first thing Dakota Ditcheva purchased after her historic title win final month was a McDonald’s for her family and friends.
The 26-year-old’s victory over Taila Santos – the place she gained the PFL flyweight belt to grow to be the primary British girl to assert a serious MMA world championship – got here with a $1m (£787,000) prize.
Ditcheva ordered hen nuggets, chips and a Coke however did not get to get pleasure from all of her celebratory meal.
“I really ended up giving the hen nuggets to my little brother as a result of he forgot to place an order in. So I ended up with simply chips and a Coke, nevertheless it was nonetheless good, anyway,” says Ditcheva with fun.
Because the footage of her second-round knockout unfold throughout social media, congratulations poured in from among the largest names in MMA.
Present and former champions Amanda Nunes, Cris Cyborg, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Kayla Harrison paid tribute, however the message which meant probably the most to Ditcheva got here from a extra unlikely supply.
It got here from ex-Manchester Metropolis striker Paul Dickov.
“He is the one that stands proud as a result of we have been Metropolis followers our entire life, it is a surreal second,” she says.
“Even my good friend stated: ‘Oh my God, Paul Dickov messaged you, that is my Metropolis legend!'”
Ditcheva celebrated by exploring Riyadh along with her household, earlier than flying to Florida, the place she visited Disneyland along with her mates.
From ordering quick meals to dwelling and respiration Manchester Metropolis and spending time with family members – what’s essential to her is sustaining a way of normality.
“That is how I at all times need it to be. I do not need my life to alter in any respect,” says Ditcheva.
“Simply because I’ve gained a world title would not make me any higher than anybody else. I may need 1,000,000 within the financial institution however take that million off me, and I will be the identical individual.
“So I need to be sure that I keep like that and that is what I at all times wished.”
