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Din Thomas wants reigning PFL Flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva to join the UFC roster, and he’s willing to trade to make it happen.
The retired Lightweight pioneer and current UFC analyst recently discussed the current MMA landscape, talking about the need for stars in order to have a successful promotion. While highlighting the lack of stars in rival promotions like Global Fight League (GFL) and Professional Fighter’s League (PFL), Thomas praised PFL Flyweight queen Ditcheva for becoming a star.
He’s impressed enough that he would trade away current top Light Heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev if given the option.
Big Ank catching strays for no reason dawg pic.twitter.com/zZTJ8eniqz
— UncChaelGlazer (@mmatalksonx) February 5, 2025
“We gotta understand that MMA is a star-driven sport,” Thomas began on the Casuals MMA podcast. “We have a star problem in the UFC, much less the GFL, when they were stars 20, 10 years ago. How do they expect a 50-50 split revenue, and you don’t even know what the revenue is going to be?”
When the conversation moved to PFL and their stairs, Thomas continued, “They got Dakota Ditcheva, who’s a star. If you guys like MMA, do this for MMA: trade her to the UFC. She belongs in the UFC. Listen, get rid of Ankalaev in the UFC, trade her for Ankalaev. We don’t need Ankalaev. He’s not getting the title, we don’t need this guy! Ankalaev will fit right in at the PFL, another guy that nobody knows about that’s really good.”
Obviously, this proposed trade isn’t likely to happen any time soon with Ankalaev scheduled to finally fight Alex Pereira at UFC 313. If the Dagestani athlete were to lose, however, perhaps it would make sense to some degree.
What say you fight fans, would your trade away Ankalaev in return for the surging Flyweight knockout artist?
Insomnia
Manel Kape gets a new opponent, and it’s NOT Charles Johnson. UFC really doesn’t want to get “Inner G” a big opportunity despite his recent success …
Asu Almabayev will become the first fighter out of Kazakhstan to headline a UFC event when he main events #UFCVegas103 against Manel Kape next month. pic.twitter.com/LdrTKpKAr4
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) February 6, 2025
A great fight. Makes sense!
My opportunity will come as long as I continue to stay steadfast in my preparation and work.I’m focused on the task at hand.
Another prospect to unravel.See yal March 1st! ??? ??? #innerGtv #skulletgang #ufc https://t.co/sJuDSKnKHn
— Charles “InnerG” Johnson (@innerGmma_ufc) February 6, 2025
10 out of 10.
Bruna Brasil imitates Sean Strickland in front of Sean Strickland pic.twitter.com/qvGW6uQY2C
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) February 6, 2025
A classic example of classic Muay Thai play sparring.
SUPERLEK x KHUNSUEKLEK
Two of the best Muay Thai fighters on the planet training together
( : IG/khunsueklek) pic.twitter.com/f5KxNzVuzo
— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) February 6, 2025
Sean Strickland has effectively annoyed at least one entire country if nothing else.
This dude done made the first page of the newspaper Aussie done put a bag on buddy head pic.twitter.com/tnzteTd8MK
— Joaquin New Mansa Buckley (@Newmansa94) February 6, 2025
Georgia has arrived in Australia in full force for Aleksandre Topuria’s UFC debut.
Merab joins Topuria brothers in Sydney, Australia. pic.twitter.com/ne6jGdXWGI
— Eternal MMA (@lefthook25) February 5, 2025
Kidnapping and extortion is (allegedly) a wild past time for an MMA fighter.
MMA fighter Khasan Askhabov has been detained in Bali on suspicion of kidnapping a Ukrainian citizen and extorting 3.2 billion rupees ($200,000). Askhabov was previously detained in Thailand for a similar crime
Reported by Baza pic.twitter.com/S9rn3btUo4
— Matysek (@Matysek88) January 31, 2025
Dricus Du Plessis’ usual banter has been on display this week.
Dricus du Plessis reacts to Alex Pereira being in the corner of Sean Strickland for their rematch:
“Strickland can barely understand his own coach who’s also American. How’s he gonna understand Alex Pereira.”
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 30, 2025
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Colby Covington is finally back in the win column.
Kicks are a double-edged sword to an extent that’s hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t competed in combat sports.
I genuinely cannot believe Justin Tafa is on a pay-per-view main card in 2025.
Random Land
Carnivorous plants are so neat.
Midnight Music: Indie pop, 2009
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.