Tag: Paul Felder

Paul Felder details preparation to call every bout on ‘Fight Island’

Paul Felder is going to have an strong presence on UFC broadcasts when the promotion heads to “Fight Island” for four events in July.

[autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] is going to have a strong presence on UFC broadcasts when the promotion heads to “Fight Island” for four events in July.

A UFC lightweight contender, Felder (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) has made a seamless transition into the commentary booth over the past few years. He hasn’t fully moved on from fighting, but he admits broadcasting is taking up more and more of his time and will be a major part of his future when he retires from competition for good.

Felder’s assignments are often interchanged with the likes of Daniel Cormier, Dominick Cruz, Michael Bisping, and a few others – but not he’s on the cusp of his busiest stretch yet. With UFC hosting cards on July 11, July 15, July 18, and July 25 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Felder revealed he will be serving as a color commentator for all 40-plus fights alongside some combination of Bisping, Jon Anik, John Gooden, and Dan Hardy.

“I’m calling every fight,” Felder told MMA Junkie. “I’m working the desk for every fight and calling every fight. I’m out there all three weeks. So, I’ve got a lot of work to do as well. There’s quite a lot of research when you have to call four fight cards and also talk pre and post-fight shows as well.”

Felder said the July 25 card is the least of his worries, as he’ll have one week to prepare between shows. Prior to that, though, there are three cards in seven days, including a total of four championship bouts.

The highest level fights where belts are up for grabs are, of course, which will attract the most attention from the public. However, Felder said he feels a responsibility to treat each contest with equal respect.

Several athletes who have minimal UFC experience are slated to compete at the events. Felder said it’s imperative to tell the all stories and detail all the techniques with the same level of respect.

“That last one I will have plenty of time, but the first three I’ve got to be ready and ahead of it and start prepping the first couple now,” Felder said. “Then once the first one is done, I’ll freshen up on the second show and starting research on the third show. I’d like to get a little idea of everybody, especially the prelim guys that might slip under the radar on occasion. I want to make sure I’m on point and giving those guys their credit and really showcasing them properly.”

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Not only does Felder have a heavy workload calling fights then serving as an analyst on pre and post-show content, but he also faces some very unique conditions. Due to the time difference from the U.S., the main cards for “Fight Island” shows will begin no earlier than 1 a.m. local time.

Felder competed on the UFC’s most recent show in Abu Dhabi, which was UFC 242 in September, but the situation was different. The start time was better suited to the local market, and athletes had a greater amount of time to adjust to the climate.

There’s no envy from Felder for the fighters competing, and he’s curious to see how everyone adapts.

“I think the best thing to do is go over there and just sleep and train when you can,” Felder said. If you’re feeling tired just freaking sleep. If you want to work out just work out. I wouldn’t worry too much about, ‘I have to sleep at this time.'”

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Paul Felder isn’t really retired, says he’s just ‘benching’ himself until right fight surfaces

“I need the next fight to be something that scares me and gets me training and gets me motivated and gives me a reason.”

[autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] isn’t retired. He’s just benching himself.

Over the past few months, Felder’s fighting future largely has been unclear. After his February loss to [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag], Felder (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) hinted that fight potentially would be his last.

In recent weeks, however, he’s changed his tune. And on Monday, Felder told MMA Junkie he is now leaning toward fighting again.

“I’m benching myself for a second,” Felder said. “I think that’s the way I would really consider it. I just needed a little break, man. That fight in New Zealand was a tough one. I pour my soul into these fight camps, man. I really don’t hold back. It’s not like I casually take a fight because I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah, I think I can beat that guy. How many weeks do we have?’ I really try to make sure I check all the boxes. I did that for that one.

“It was so close, and your heart gets broken with a decision. It’s not like I’m crying about it. I just needed time. That was a lot. I was gone for a long time. … I just wanted to be home for a little bit.”

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As soon as the right matchup presents itself, Felder will get back to business. But until then, Felder is in no rush. He’s been busy buying a house and spending time with his family in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To be completely honest, man, I’ve been going through a lot,” Felder said. “I’m busy. I’m buying a house. I’m just in no rush to come back for something that will not excite me. I need the next fight to be something that scares me and gets me training and gets me motivated and gives me a reason to leave at eight, nine, (or) 10 weeks at a time and put my body through what it goes through.

“Look at those guys on Saturday night: Hooker and Poirier. Those guys are going to be hurting for a while. This is a savage sport. If your head is not quite in it, I’m not going to rush back to get into the cage unless it’s something super exciting.”

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Speaking of Hooker and Dustin Poirier, Felder says a matchup against either would qualify as a worthwhile fight. He’s also interested in a fight against former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.

“That is what would bring me back – a rematch with Dan,” Felder said. “Now, it’d just be, ‘Let’s just run it back.’ Listen, I’ve never really sat and whined and complained about the decision. But it was close enough where you could warrant a rematch between us. … So, yeah, (Hooker), Tony Ferguson, Dustin (Poirier). The chances of Conor are probably zero, so I won’t even mention that. That’s just not going to happen. So, yeah, those are the fights that I want.”

One name Felder did not include on his initial list was fellow contender [autotag]Al Iaquinta[/autotag]. The two fighters have been publicly matched up in the past, but the bout never has come to fruition. The promotion also has discussed on numerous occasions privately – including offers for the two to fight Aug. 15.

“That is true, and I said no,” Felder said of the rumored offer. “I said I want to do ‘Fight Island.’ I want to start a training camp. I want to fight later in the fall. If that’s one of the fights on the table, then possibly. It had nothing to do with Al. I also agreed to fight Al in June, and he hurt his knee again.

“That was probably the third or fourth time that we’ve now been supposedly matched up and something has happened on his end. I know he’s healthy now, and he can be upset all he wants. I don’t really care. He’s selling real estate. I do commentary, Al. I’m doing my second job.”

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Paul Felder says ‘that’s BS’ for Jessica Eye to feel proud of barely missing weight

“You can’t be proud for missing weight” – even if you come close to making it, says Paul Felder.

[autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] doesn’t seem all that pleased with [autotag]Jessica Eye[/autotag]’s reaction to her most recent weight-cutting mishap.

Prior to UFC on ESPN 10 on Saturday, Felder, a lightweight contender and color commentator, spoke about Eye’s remarks on social media in which she said she was “extremely proud” to have missed weight by just .25 pounds for her main event bout with Cynthia Calvillo.

“To say that you’re proud of yourself for missing, and I like Jessica and I think she’s a great fighter, and I’ll probably hear about this later, you can’t be proud for missing weight,” Felder said during the ESPN preview for the event. “That’s BS.”

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Eye missed weight for her flyweight bout at Friday morning’s weigh-ins. She came in at 126.25 pounds and was visibly struggling to stand while on the scale. This is the second consecutive time Eye has missed weight, as she missed the mark by five pounds in her previous bout in December, which Eye chalked up to being on her menstrual cycle.

During UFC on ESPN 10 media day, Eye was confident she’d have no issues making weight this time, but that proved to not be the case.

You can listen to Felder’s remark below:

Callout Collection: Who UFC on ESPN+ 29 winners want next – and how likely they’ll get them

Ben Rothwell and Drew Dober were among those who name-dropped their preferred next opponents at UFC Jacksonville.

Earning wins in the UFC is certainly no easy task, but what comes next is often even more important: the post-fight callout.

So after Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN+ 29 event in Jacksonville, who took advantage of their time on the mic? See below for this week’s Callout Collection – and just how realistic each one is.

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First up, let’s take a look at the preliminary card …

Brian Kelleher

Wants to fight: [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]

The callout: “He thinks I’m nobody, he thinks if he beats me it means nothing. But look, I’m knocking guys out, undefeated guys. I’m fighting tough guys – whoever they put in front of me. He should do the same. If he’s not afraid, he’ll take the fight.”

The reality: If you’re [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] and you want to make an impact in the division, calling out Sean O’Malley certainly won’t hurt. But I suspect that the UFC may have O’Malley on a different path as they look to move him up the rankings for his next fight. O’Malley told MMA Junkie recently that he’s in no rush to get to the top of the sport, though he also said if he performs the way he thinks he will, he’ll be fast-tracked anyway. The matchup could deliver a fast-paced, exciting clash, but I suspect “The Suga Show” could find himself up against a ranked opponent for his next outing.

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Next up: A Brazilian lightweight targets a former champion

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UFC lightweight Paul Felder decides against retirement: ‘I cannot wait to fight again’

UFC lightweight Paul Felder says he can’t wait to return to the cage after the coronavirus pandemic calms down.

[autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] isn’t done yet.

Thursday, during an Instagram live chat with UFC commentary partner Jon Anik, Felder (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) indicated retirement isn’t in the cards.

Being stuck in the house during the coronavirus pandemic, Felder said he realized how much he loves fighting after a text conversation with his manager.

“I can tell you that after all of this with what we’re going through, I cannot wait to fight again,” Felder said. “Dude, I’m on this bike. I had my manager, Brian Butler, send me all these photos. I texted him last night. I said, ‘Man, I’m a little depressed.’ I’m missing my job. I’m missing my guys. I’m missing my commentary. … We’re having a great time. Family time is great. But I just miss that fire.”

Felder was last seen inside the cage Feb. 23 at UFC on ESPN+ 26. After an epic war against Dan Hooker, Felder came up on the losing end of a split decision.

In his post-fight interview, Felder hinted the fight may have been his last. It seems Felder has had an epiphany since then.

“You don’t realize how important that is in your life – especially somebody like myself or anybody like myself who’s an athlete that’s been doing this for so long,” Felder said. “… To just have that stripped away from us, it’s like, (expletive), man. (Expletive), I can’t wait to get back to doing this.”

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Eager to return, Felder said he’s not calling COVID-19 safety measures to be overstepped in order for him to do so. He’s willing to wait.

“I’m also realistic,” Felder said. “I’m not one of those people like, ‘We need to just open everything up.’ I don’t want a second wave or any of that stuff. When it does come and I see you guys again, I cannot wait to be like, ‘I will never take this for granted ever again.’ I think that’s something we’re all going to learn from this craziness, if anything.”

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Renato Moicano explains Paul Felder callout, apologizes for bizarre behavior at UFC Brasilia

UFC on ESPN+ 28 was an emotional rollercoaster for Renato Moicano.

[autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] made quick work of Damir Hadzovic and proceeded to call out one of the UFC’s top ranked lightweights.

Moicano (14-3-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC) snapped his two-fight losing skid with a first-round submission of Hadzovic on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 28 for a successful 155-pound debut. A top-ranked featherweight, Moicano is looking to mirror that promise in the lightweight division, and he wants [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] next.

Felder has won two of his last three but is coming off a split decision loss to Dan Hooker at UFC on ESPN+ 26 in a “Fight of the Night” effort.

So why Felder? Moicano says it’s simply because of their placements in the rankings.

“I don’t know, because (it) just pop in my head,” Moicano said on the UFC on ESPN+ 28 post-fight show. “He’s the No. 7 (at 155), and I’m the No. 7 (at 145), and right now I’m fighting in the lightweight (division), so why not see who is the best? The lightweight or the featherweight?”

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Brasilia native Moicano walked out to an empty crowd at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in what was meant to be a homecoming. After finishing Hadzovic in just 44 seconds, an angry Moicano got in Hadzovic’s face much to the confusion of everyone. It appears that Moicano’s frustration stemmed from both the lack of crowd and the quick finish.

He apologized for his actions afterward.

“No, I did wrong because I’m coming from two losses from tough guys, and I want to fight hard,” Moicano said. “I want to fight the best guys and in the first takedown, I put him on the ground and submit him, I want more fight. I want to fight, I want to fight, but I did wrong. I’m sorry, Hadzovic. I’m wrong.

“You know it was very strange to enter in the cage and don’t the see the crowd, especially the people from my city. I was looking forward to seeing the people cheer for me, but there is no problem. We have to fight in all circumstances, and I did good. I think I did good like a rear-naked choke in the first round against a tough guy. It was good for me.”

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Callout Collection: Who UFC on ESPN+ 28 winners want next – and how likely they’ll get them

Gilbert Burns and Renato Moicano were among those with specific names in mind for their next fights after UFC on ESPN+ 28 in Brasilia.

Earning wins in the UFC is certainly no easy task, but what comes next is often even more important: the post-fight callout.

So after Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 28 event in Brasilia, who took advantage of their time on the mic? See below for this week’s Callout Collection – and just how realistic each one is.

* * * * *

First up, let’s take a look at the preliminary card.

Amanda Ribas

Wants to fight: [autotag]Paige VanZant[/autotag]

The callout: “I want two weeks to enjoy the victory. And then I want to fight Paige VanZant. We were scheduled, and I still want to face her. If she wants to fight at flyweight, I’m here, waiting.

“But I am ambitious. I would also like to fight the winner of the fight between Carla Esparza and Michelle Waterson. I’m sure it would be a great fight.”

The reality: Will we ever see Paige VanZant in the octagon again? If she does come back, [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag] is as interesting an opponent as anyone, but she’s just one of a number of UFC fighters who have expressed an interest in welcoming “12 Gauge” back to the octagon. VanZant would likely want the highest-ranked opposition available and, while Ribas is certainly on the up, she might not carry enough upside to convince PVZ to sign the bout agreement. If and when she returns, I’d expect VanZant to face a more established name. As for Ribas, there’s another exciting matchup waiting to be made, with Angela Hill tweeting UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard saying she’d like to face the Brazilian next.

I like the look of that matchup a lot, and far prefer it to a possible bout with VanZant.

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Next up: “The Assassin Baby” shoots his shot.

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MMA Junkie’s ‘Fight of the Month’ for February: Lightweight contenders go to war

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from February 2020.

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from January 2020: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s “Fight of the Month” award for February.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice.

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The Nominees

Trevin Giles def. James Krause at UFC 247

A wild turn of events saw [autotag]James Krause[/autotag] (27-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) go from not being booked to fight in Houston to winning “Fight of the Night” in an entertaining middleweight affair with [autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, .

Krause, who typically fights at welterweight, stepped up a weight class and onto the card on roughly 30 hours notice. He went one to war with Giles, and while many believed he won, the split decision went in favor of Giles after a back-and-forth 15-minute affair.

Jon Jones def. Dominick Reyes at UFC 247

[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] did it again successfully defended his UFC light heavyweight title against challenger [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag], earning an unanimous decision nod by scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46.

It wasn’t without controversy, though, because many believe Reyes did enough to win. He pushed who many consider the sport’s all-time great to the limit over five rounds, but in the end the judges didn’t score it in his favor and Jones gave Reyes his first career loss.

Scott Holtzman def. Jim Miller at UFC on ESPN+ 25

[autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] (31-14 MMA, 20-13 UFC) is one of the most durable competitors in the history of MMA. If you doubt that, consider that his fight with [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) was his 33rd in the UFC and that he holds the company’s record for lightweight wins at 19.

Holtzman, however, is starting to demonstrate that he, too, has staying power – and that here in his fifth UFC year, he’s coming into his own. “Hot Sauce” scored an impressive win, figuring out the pace in the opening round and then turning things on over the final two to earn a unanimous decision.

Dan Hooker def. Paul Felder at UFC on ESPN+ 26

[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] (20-8 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) delivered on their promise to deliver a memorable bout when fighting on a main event stage for the first time, producing the “Fight of the Night” in Auckland.

The pair of lightweight contenders went back-and-forth over the course of five rounds, battering each other with every ounce of their fiber. Hooker got the split decision nod in the end, but Felder certainly made a strong case that he was deserving, as well. Both men earned each other’s respect, though, and shared a post-fight moment in the hospital.

Deiveson Figueiredo def. Joseph Benavidez at UFC on ESPN+ 27

[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) earned the biggest victory of his career when he scored a second-round technical knockout of [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] (28-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC) in a bout that was supposed to crown a new 125-pound champion.

But Figueiredo missed weight, coming in at 127.5, two-and-a-half pounds over the championship weight limit. As such, while Benavidez, who made weight, would have won the title with a victory, Figueiredo earned the victory, but not the belt, as the title remained vacant.

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The Winner:

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Hooker is a lanky lightweight who uses his range to maximum efficiency. Felder is a buzzsaw who likes to bite down on his mouthpiece, close the distance and throw down.

That’s what made the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 26 in Auckland, New Zealand, so intriguing on paper, and the fight delivered exactly what it promised.

For five grueling rounds, the duo put on a display that was equal parts skill and grit, as the duo pieced each other up.

In the end, Hooker, who trains out of Auckland’s City Kickboxing, earned the hometown victory at Spark Arena via split decision. Hooker got the better end of two out of three 48-47 scorecards in a fight every bit as close as the scores indicate.

After the fight, Felder indicated retirement might be in the cards.

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“I knew it was close,” he said. “I feel like I hurt him a lot in the fight, but he got the takedowns, which is smart. He busted me up pretty good. That might be it for me.”

The opening round saw Hooker, who had a four-inch reach advantage, utilize his range. He kept Felder at bay with front kicks and kicks to the lead leg. When Felder landed, however, he did so with authority, as he rocked Hooker with a pair of left hooks during the round, portending things to come.

By Round 2, Felder’s right eye was swollen shut, but he pressed forward. Hooker continued to play matador, continued to land kicks, and left Felder flustered.

In the third round, however, Felder managed to figure out how to close the distance and engage, even with one eye closed, and the fight’s momentum changed. Hooker never did have an answer for Felder’s powerful, well-placed lefts, and the damage started to add up.

In the fourth, the Roufusport standout continued to turn up the heat, and there was a sense Felder could win the fight after all. What had been a rowdy crowd at the fight’s outset grew nervous as the two exchanged, with Felder getting the best of things.

Both competitors went for the win in the fifth. What might have been the deciding moment came late, when Hooker parried a charging Felder and turned it into a takedown. Felder did his best to break free, but Hooker’s poise in the last-minute scrambles spelled the difference.

While there was high tension between both men in the buildup to the bout, Hooker was conciliatory after Felder hinted at retirement.

“An honor,” Hooker said of sharing the octagon with Felder. “He’s a tough son of a gun.”

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