Felder decides against retirement: ‘I can’t wait to fight again’

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

The lightweight veteran won’t be hanging up the gloves just yet.

Two months ago, an emotional Paul Felder indicated that he might retire after a thrilling, razor-thin split decision loss to Dan Hooker. However, fans of the UFC lightweight contender may be delighted to know that he intends to keep on fighting.

“After all of this, with what we’re going through, I cannot wait to fight again,” Felder said during a recent Instagram Live conversation with Jon Anik. (Via MMA Fighting)

The 34-year-old Felder (17-5) had his five-fight lightweight winning streak snapped by Hooker in the UFC Auckland main event. During that successful spell, he picked up knockout wins over Charles Oliveira and Stevie Ray, and avenged a loss to Edson Barboza with a split decision nod. In addition to fighting, Felder has worked as an analyst for several UFC events.

With the coronavirus pandemic putting the UFC schedule on hold until at least May, there’s no telling when Felder will make his return to the Octagon, but this period of self-quarantine has clearly served as a time for self-reflection for “The Irish Dragon.”

“Fu-k, I can’t wait to get back to doing this,” Felder said. “But I’m also realistic. I’m not one of these people that’s like, ‘We need to just open everything up.’ I don’t want a second wave, I don’t want any of that stuff.

“When it does come, I can not wait to wait to just (look around). I will never take this for granted ever again. I think that’s something we’re all gonna learn with this craziness, if anything.”