Din Thomas‘ statements on The Casuals MMA show sparked a flurry of emotions from the MMA world. The former fighter and coach turned commentator offered an unusual trade: UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev for undefeated PFL flyweight Dakota Ditcheva. While Thomas framed the offer as a way to improve MMA’s star power, fans quickly dismissed the idea as absurd, particularly given Ankalaev’s recent rise to championship glory.

The discussion focused on the UFC’s need for marketable stars against competitors who are technically proficient but less entertaining to casual viewers. Thomas emphasized Ditcheva’s rapid rise in the PFL, citing her four-fight winning streak that culminated in a World Championship as evidence of her star potential.

“They don’t have stars. I mean, they got Dakota Ditcheva, who’s a star,” he said, adding that Ankalaev, despite his skills, “will fit right in at the PFL, another guy that no one knows about that’s really good.” The statement, issued days before Ankalaev’s stunning victory over Alex Pereira, clearly misjudged the Russian’s potential.

Fans reacted with laughter and amazement at Thomas’ offer. Ankalaev supporters couldn’t resist poking fun: “He be mad when Ank beat Pereira 😂,” and “Ank saw this and said, ‘Hold my beer,'” were among the lighter takes. Many people reminded the internet that Magomed Ankalaev had recently won the UFC title, making the idea of transferring a current champion even more absurd.

Criticism for Thomas himself was swift and sharp. Viewers dubbed him “the goat of bad takes” and cited his history of questionable takes, such as backing Renato Moicano on short notice against Islam Makhachev. Comments such as “He is only good at bad takes 😂” and “Yeah, trade a world champion… this guy has a lot of bad takes” highlighted the community’s frustration with his analytical judgment.

Others questioned his relevance, writing, “Who is @dinthomasfightcourt?” and “Who is this idiot?” suggesting that many fans considered him an irrelevant figure whose ideas were more funny than legitimate. Meanwhile, many other MMA fans generally felt that Ditcheva deserves a UFC shot, but not at Magomed Ankalaev’s price.

Fans advocated for better trade, saying, “I agree with getting her to the UFC, but NOT for Ankalaev get outta here 😂” and “How about taking some with a serious losing streak instead?” There was widespread agreement that, while the UFC could benefit from more star power, trading a reigning champion was over the top.

So now, with the fans definitely by his side on the trading argument, the Russian would want to live up to the hype. Who knows, maybe he will hit Alex Pereira with the same video game combination that he used against his ‘easiest’ fight in the UFC.

Magomed Ankalaev reveals his ‘easiest’ fight against ex-UFC title challenger

Magomed Ankalaev enters his first title defense carrying not just a championship belt, but also confidence based on previous performances. While fans argue his marketability vs. the UFC’s demand for stars, the Russian fighter remains focused on what is actually important inside the Octagon. Looking back on his rise to the top, he is candid about which fights tested him and which allowed him to shine naturally.

Reflecting on his rise, Ankalaev did not hesitate to mention his “easiest” UFC fight. He singled out his bout against Anthony Smith, a former title challenger, as a matchup where everything clicked with minimal effort. The champion even credited a childhood video game combination with helping him finish the fight.

Taking to his X account, Magomed Ankalaev wrote, “@ChaelSonnen you are right my friend, my toughest fight in the division is Rakic, my easiest fight ever was Anthony Smith. I hit him with a combination from a video game I used to play when I was 12.” This level of self-assuredness provides a stark contrast to his upcoming rematch with Alex Pereira. This degree of confidence contrasts sharply with his upcoming fight with Alex Pereira.

While he easily defeated Smith and ‘Poatan’ in the first fight, Pereira is still widely viewed as a more difficult opponent, with fans anticipating a more strategic and intense rematch. However, we must also remember that the Dagestani is prepared, confident, and ready to employ every tool in his arsenal to remain at the pinnacle of the light heavyweight division. So, the fans are surely in for a fun ride with this one.