PFL Champion Ditcheva Defends Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham; Invites Fever Star to Train MMA

Iowa native Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham have found an unlikely defender in the world of mixed martial arts. PFL flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva recently spoke out in support of the WNBA stars, who have faced criticism for their on-court intensity. Ditcheva even extended an invitation for Cunningham to try her hand at MMA training.

The support comes after Cunningham made headlines earlier this month by appearing as a ring girl at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. The Missouri native turned heads with her cameo, but she has also drawn scrutiny for her physical style of play and fierce competitiveness in the WNBA.

Ditcheva: Clark and Cunningham 'Get a Lot of Stick'

Speaking to Ariel Helwani ahead of her own fight at PFL New York, Ditcheva defended both Clark and Cunningham from the ongoing criticism surrounding their aggressive play.

“She's great,” Ditcheva said. “I feel like she's doing really well. Her and Caitlin, you know, they get a lot of stick, and I feel like Sophie's funny because you see the clips of her getting, like, fouled all the time. And then you see, like, suddenly one day she just switches.”

While Ditcheva did not specify a particular incident, she may have been referencing a controversial moment from last year's WNBA Commissioner's Cup. During that game, Connecticut Sun player Jacy Sheldon appeared to poke Clark in the eye while defending her. Cunningham responded with a Flagrant 2 foul, shoving Sheldon in retaliation.

The incident drew criticism for Cunningham, but she also received support from former Iowa coach Lisa Bluder, who defended her for standing up for her teammate.

Ditcheva Invites Cunningham to Train MMA

Ditcheva did not stop at voicing support. She also expressed interest in playing basketball with Cunningham and invited her to train in mixed martial arts.

“Well, I'd love to do a bit of basketball with her, and then she'll feel like, now she's fouling everyone,” Ditcheva added. “She could come and do a bit of MMA.”

The idea of Cunningham in combat sports is not new. Clark herself suggested during a press conference that the Missouri native could become a UFC fighter after her ring girl appearance.

Dana White Praises Cunningham's UFC Cameo

UFC CEO Dana White also praised Cunningham's appearance at UFC 329, revealing that the moment was unplanned. White said Cunningham volunteered to walk around the Octagon just eight minutes before the co-main event.

“About eight minutes before she did it,” White said during the post-fight conference. “I love Sophie Cunningham. We've created a relationship, and she was here tonight. When she walked in, she goes, 'I want to walk around that.' I said, 'Then you're going to walk around it.' She's fun.”

Cunningham called the experience one of the most enjoyable things she had done. White later attended an Indiana Fever game and hugged Cunningham during the contest, a moment that went viral.

What This Means for Iowa Fans

For Iowa fans who followed Clark's legendary college career at the University of Iowa, the connection between the WNBA and the MMA world adds another layer to Clark's growing national profile. Clark's competitive spirit and team-first mentality have made her a fan favorite in the state, and seeing her teammate defended by a champion fighter reinforces the toughness that Iowa fans admire.

Whether Cunningham will accept Ditcheva's invitation to train MMA remains to be seen. But with support from both the PFL champion and the UFC boss, the Fever star has clearly built a new fanbase in the combat sports world.