Following Jim Miller’s impressive victory over Gabriel Benitez at UFC Vegas 84, where he secured a third-round neck crank in the co-main event, the itch for the competition is reigniting in former UFC fighter-turned-commentator Paul Felder.
With a UFC record of 9-6, Felder finds himself drawn back to the octagon after witnessing Miller’s stellar performance on Saturday. Competing from 2014 to 2020, former UFC fighter Paul Felder, now 39, showcased his skills against the best in the business during his six-year tenure in the promotion. Miller’s performance wasn’t the only thing that relite the fire.
“When I saw ‘Korean Zombie’ (Chan Sung Jung) have that walkout and I got inspired to potentially get back into the pool and do all this sort of stuff, anybody who knows me or talked to me, you knew Jim was the name,” Felder told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a news conference Saturday. “I was like, ‘If I’m going to do it, I want it to be against a guy like Jim, somebody around my age, who’s been in the game for a long time.’ I’m not trying to come back and make a run for the belt or anything like that.”
Paul Felder vs Jim Miller?
Nearly a clash from the past, one of Paul Felder’s bouts in the UFC almost saw him facing off against Jim Miller in 2015. However, the anticipated showdown was cancelled at the time due to injury.
Now, with almost a decade elapsed since the once-scheduled fight, Felder has expressed his interest in participating in the UFC’s landmark event, UFC 300, slated for April 13 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. He openly made the proposal to Miller in the fighter meeting ahead of his UFC Vegas 84 clash, however the decision is dependant on how he Felder feels in the gym.
“When we talked to Jim in the fighter meetings, obviously, the people around me are kind of egging it on and pushing me,” Felder said. “I was like, ‘If you call me out, Jim, it’s something I’d be interested in doing.’ He’s like, ‘If you get me a job sitting next to you on the desk, we’ll make it a deal.’ I think they’ll be calling him for at least an audition coming up soon. When he said that, it’s like, f*ck, now he’s setting me up with all the things I said, ‘If he does this, if this happens, then I’d be interested in doing it.’ I’ve just got to get back in the gym and see how things feel.”
Making A Comeback
While the potential bout generates excitement among dedicated MMA enthusiasts, Paul Felder acknowledges that several crucial factors must be considered before committing to a comeback. Among these considerations is the approval of his wife, as he values her support in such significant decisions.
Additionally, Felder also recognizes the importance of obtaining the UFC boss Dana White’s approval and ensuring his dedication to an intensive three-month training regimen for the potential matchup.
Whether Paul Felder makes his UFC 300 comeback or not, the mere consideration of his return adds a layer of excitement to the buildup, sparking conversations and speculation within the MMA community.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
