Paul Felder is back…sort of.
It has been almost three years since Paul Felder last fought in the Octagon. Felder, once a UFC lightweight contender, has been working as a commentator since then. He was recently inspired by Sung Jeong’s performance against “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung in August 2023. Even though Jung won the fight by knockout, it motivated Felder to consider fighting again. As a result, he has rejoined the USADA testing pool. Today, USADA updated their records, officially recognizing Felder’s return. ESPN spoke to Felder about his return and asked if he was definitely coming back. Felder clarified that he was not committed to returning but was open to the opportunity if it arises. Before being eligible to compete, Felder needs to undergo six months of testing by USADA.
The timing of Felder’s re-entry may seem unnecessary to some extent. Last month, it was announced that the partnership between UFC and USADA will end in early 2024. Returning fighters like Felder and Conor McGregor will only be tested for two months before the partnership concludes.
Felder’s most recent fight was a short notice match against Rafael dos Anjos, where he replaced Islam Makhachev. Although he narrowly lost the fight, his performance earned him an additional $50,000 and the “Fight of the Night” accolade. Throughout his career, Felder has competed in 23 fights, with a record of 17 wins and 6 losses.
