Alex Pereira’s rival takes heat as UFC analyst suggests wild PFL trade with $1 million tournament winner: “We don’t need this guy!”

Magomed Ankalaev catches stray before UFC 313 PPV challenge vs. Alex Pereira as popular commentator jokes about trading for PFL star Dakota Ditcheva.

Alex Pereira’s rival takes heat as UFC analyst suggests wild PFL trade with $1 million tournament winner: “We don’t need this guy!”

Analyst wants to trade Alex Pereira's rival for Dakota Ditcheva (Image via Forbes/Instagram)

Being a great fighter doesn’t always make for the biggest martial arts star. Alex Pereira got the best of the draw. Now, “Poatan” makes another defense at the UFC 313 PPV event headliner, Live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. However, less popular Magomed Ankalaev now catches stray as a very replaceable option. With who? PFL’s British starlet Dakota Ditcheva is the intended target.

Khalil Rountree went to a gritty war with Alex Pereira recently. His KO power, crisp standup, and jolly disposition make him a complete legacy rival. However, for many years, 205-pound peers have said Magomed Ankalaev isn’t the most exciting option. As such, coach and analyst Din Thomas made the wildest trade idea for Ditcheva.

I mean they [PFL] got Dakota Ditcheva, who’s a star, …I’m like, ‘Yo please listen, if you guys like MMA, do this for MMA. Trade her to the UFC, you know she belongs in the UFC’. Just trade, listen, get rid of Ankalaev in the UFC, trade her for Ankalaev, we don’t need Ankalaev, you know what I’m saying…He’s not getting the title, we don’t need this guy, trade him for Dakota.

Din Thomas on ‘The Casuals MMA’ Podcast
YouTube video

Din Thomas argued that Ankalaev moving to the PFL makes sense because neither promotion or the Dagestani fighter are not popular. PFL has been on low graces and health points with its Bellator dissolution lately. It needs a proper Demetrious Johnson/Ben Askren UFC-ONE FC-esque legacy swap.

FS Video

While UFC will hardly allow this trade, Dakota Ditcheva would thrive in the transaction. She strung up a neat 14-0 stat and won the PFL’s $1 million flyweight tournament. She already sees all-around comparisons with the likes of Ronda Rousey!

The PFL star’s ‘American Top Team’ mate Kayla Harrison, a two-time PFL lightweight champ, also made it big in UFC. PFL went down to a Grand Prix-style one-elimination, with $500,000 prize in fighter-specific contracts. Hence, Dakota Ditcheva might bank bigger in UFC. Pereira once snubbed ‘boring’ Ankalaev from the title crack. It remains to be seen if Ankalaev emerge victorious at UFC 313.

RELATED
“They’re drowning!” Dana White incinerates PFL for throwing shade at Kayla Harrison
UFC CEO Dana White berates PFL for degrading Kayla Harrison‘s reputation

Unheralded title challenger Magomed Ankalaev could finally go all the way at UFC 313

For every “Poatan” who is famous and seemingly can’t even breathe wrong, there’s a ‘Magomed Ankalaev.’ Less popular; not so lucky, and in the waiting aisle. There have been talks about PFL bleeding cash and undefeated 26-year-old Ditcheva transitioning to the octagon for better pay. But to sub in for the top seed for UFC 205-Pound gold Ankalaev is weird and audacious!

Magomed Ankalaev ready for UFC 313 and Alex Pereira
Magomed Ankalaev ready for UFC 313 and Alex Pereira (Source: X)

UFC 313 PPV main event marks a good change for Magomed Ankalaev as he had to wait to earn his UFC 313 title shot. For a moment, it also looked like an uninterested Alex Pereira was angling at other fights. Despite getting a shot at the vacant title, his UFC 282 fight with Jan Blachowicz ended in a draw. It led to him working his way back up the rankings. But now, his destiny is in his own hands.

A wrestle-heavy Ankalaev is a reckoning; his personality and fight IQ though, do not garner the big thrills. Yet, many consider him to be the 205-pound champion in waiting, Ankalaev’s (20-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC) unreal resume saw a 12-fight UFC unbeaten streak at light heavyweight, the longest in the division. Ankalaev’s six knockout victories in 205 give Alex Pereira’s KOTY contenders a run for his money.

RELATED
“It’s honestly embarrassing” – MMA fans mock Alex Pereira snubbing Magomed Ankalaev in recent update 
Alex Pereira gives an update about his potential fight against Magomed Ankalaev

He defends 86.4 percent of his opponent’s takedown attempts in UFC light heavyweight competition. It is the third highest rate in division history and a perfect deterrent to Pereira’s spatial check and anti-wrestle games. Per BetMGM, he is even on the money line to win at UFC 313; there’s a high chance that might come true.

Related: PFL needs to keep Dakota Ditcheva happy or she’s UFC bound in 2025