Paul Felder had a fantastic MMA career where he cemented himself as a fan favourite. The fighter from Philadelphia is now a colour commentator for the UFC, where he uses his knowledge of the sport to analysethe fights for us, the fans. Felder had a successful run inside of the UFC octagon. His last fight was in 2020, but after watching the Korean zombie take on Max Holloway, he has teased a potential return.
Paul Felder A Fighter For The Fans
Felder was a top contender in the UFC lightweight division for many years. He had a professional record of 17-6 with 11 finishes. Felder has fought most of the big names in the lightweight division. His biggest wins are over Edeson Barboza, James Vick and Charles Oliveria. He was known more for his striking skills than his grappling throughout his career. Felder never backed down from a challenge and was willing to fight anybody. His last fight was evidence of this, as he took the matchup with Rafael Dos Anjos on short notice. Furthermore, the 39-year-old fought the Brazilian to a split decision. The result showed that he could still compete at an extremely high level.
A Magical Night In Singapore
A legend of the sport retired this past Saturday. Of course, this fighter is Chan Sung Jung, also known as The Korean Zombie. Jung squared off against the outstanding Max Holloway. It was an incredibly entertaining fight. Holloway finished Jung in the third round of the contest by knockout. It is safe to say Jung gave it his all as he came out guns blazing in the third round. However, what made his retirement fight so special was the expression of love for him by the crowd.
A prime example is when the audience serenaded the Korean fighter with the Cranberries’ song Zombie. The atmosphere in Singapore was electric. It is easy to see why an athlete like Felder wants to step into the Octagon again. Felder took to social media platform X to tease a potential return.
If Felder Returns, Who Could He Face
If he were to return, there are lots of great matchups for him to choose from. The first one that comes to mind is a rematch against Dos Anjos, as their first meeting was incredibly close, and it would be great to see them run it back. Speaking of rematches, a second fight with Dan Hooker could be interesting. The reason for this is they both put on entertaining fights. Finally, a matchup with Paddy Pimblett could be intriguing as Felder could provide an excellent test for the Englishman. To see if he’s ready to compete at the top of the division.
It is always lovely to think about a great fighter like Felder returning. Yet, it is essential to remember that he last competed three years ago, which means there’s always the possibility of ring rust.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
