Dan Hardy pours cold water on Dakota Ditcheva UFC speculation

There’s been growing talk about whether the UFC might try to sign Dakota Ditcheva, who’s quickly become one of the most sought-after fighters outside the promotion.

She recently signed a multi-year extension with PFL, so there were some discussions about whether the UFC might try to trade for her rather than wait out her contract.

But in an interview with Bloody Elbow, Dan Hardy said that what he’s heard about those discussions doesn’t hold much weight.

“I’ve heard of conversations around trading and I’ve heard some names being thrown around and you would laugh at the names that have been thrown around, especially because of how things have played out [laughing]. It just doesn’t make any sense,” he said ahead of PFL Lyon this Saturday.

The context of these discussions isn’t fully clear. Din Thomas did suggest earlier this year that Magomed Ankalaev could be traded for Ditcheva. Given Hardy’s comments and Ankalaev no longer being champion, it may be what he was referring to.

Dan Hardy dismisses the idea of trades in MMA

Dan Hardy isn’t just skeptical about the UFC making a move for Dakota Ditcheva. He has broader doubts about whether trades make sense at all in mixed martial arts.

Hardy, a former title contender himself, is a fan of cross-promotion events, but he doesn’t see how trades fit into the sport.

Even looking back at the one high-profile example – Demetrious Johnson and Ben Askren swapping organisations – he couldn’t understand the logic behind it.

Speaking to Bloody Elbow, Hardy said: “I don’t like the idea of trades. I think it’s an odd thing to do in combat sports. If it’s a team and you’re trading one player from one team to another, etc., that makes sense. A fighter is a very individual thing.”

“Like trading Ben Askren for Demetrious Johnson, that didn’t make any sense to me whatsoever. I mean, one is not the equivalent to another.”