Paul Felder remains to be considering a possible MMA comeback, however Jim Miller calling him out for UFC 300 could have swayed his choice.
Retired since 2021, Felder spent the previous two years serving as a colour commentator for the UFC broadcast workforce, whereas additionally partaking in triathlons and dabbling in appearing every time time permits. However after watching “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung stroll out for his ultimate battle this previous August, Felder turned impressed to contemplate a return to motion.
He reentered the UFC’s anti-doping program in August, which requires six months of testing earlier than a retired athlete can compete once more, however Felder made it clear that no ultimate choice has been made. It seems an opportunity to face a legend like Miller on the historic card in April may simply be what Felder wanted to persuade him to battle once more.
“Anyone that is aware of me or talked to me knew that Jim was the title,” Felder defined after UFC Vegas 84. “If I’m going to do it, I need it to be towards a man like Jim. Any individual that’s round my age, that’s been within the recreation for a very long time. I’m not attempting to return again and make a run for the belt or something like that.”
Felder says he was already listening to requires the battle with Miller at UFC 300 earlier than the published workforce sat down to speak with the athletes forward of Saturday’s occasion.
Miller submitting Gabriel Benitez after which mentioning Felder as one in every of his preferrred opponents for April throughout his post-fight interview was the proper bait to doubtlessly get the Philadelphia native on board for an official comeback.
“Should you name me out, Jim, it’s one thing that I’d be serious about doing,” Felder revealed. “He’s like, ‘Should you get me a job sitting subsequent to you on the desk, we’ll make it a deal.’ I feel they’ll not less than be calling him for an audition arising quickly. When he stated that, it’s like, f***, now he’s setting me up, all of the issues that I stated, ‘Nicely, if he does this, this occurs, I’d be serious about doing it.’ I’ve acquired to get again within the fitness center and see how issues really feel.
“That’s why it’s so powerful and so tempting and leaning in the direction of desirous to do it. As a result of it’s — as he desires to be referred to as at UFC 300 — Jim f****** Miller. He’s superior. He fights superior. I get to see that battle proper in entrance of my eyes the place it’s a leg kick battle, a standup battle primarily. Clearly he completed him on the bottom as Jim can do, but when it’s going to be a battle like that, then I feel the followers would eat it up. As a result of you recognize I’m not taking pictures any takedowns in there, particularly towards Jim. I’m not placing my neck on the road like that. It will positively be a enjoyable battle.”
After all, Felder wanting the battle and Miller calling for it nonetheless doesn’t imply it is going to occur.
Felder is aware of that finally the choice falls on the UFC, and he’s not sure that the powers that be inside the promotion will log off on the matchup. Miller additionally named UFC welterweight knockout king Matt Brown as one other attainable opponent, so Felder could not even get the provide.
“It’s additionally as much as the UFC, too, proper? I clearly haven’t pressed the problem,” Felder stated. “Sean [Shelby] knew that he wished to check me out to see if I used to be being flaky, and I’ve performed it previously the place I’m like, ‘I’m coming again! I’m going to make a run for it,’ and do all this after which I simply don’t.
“I’ve acquired to see are they even serious about that battle occurring. However to do it on a legendary card like that may be unbelievable.”
Regardless of not preventing for over two years, Felder nonetheless trains often and he’s additionally gotten concerned in endurance sports activities like marathon racing, triathlons, and Iron Man competitions. He guarantees he’s in the perfect form in his life proper now, however these sports activities aren’t MMA.
For now, Felder will talk about his attainable comeback together with his spouse and his household together with getting again within the fitness center, whereas awaiting phrase from the UFC.
If that decision by no means comes or Felder finally decides that he’s simply higher off retired slightly than coming again for one more battle, he can’t say that there could be a lot disappointment. He is aware of from his personal experiences in addition to watching and calling fights from cageside that MMA is a brutal, relentless sport that gives no apologies in anyway.
“Everybody retains saying, ‘You’re going to remorse it for those who don’t do it.’ I’m like, I don’t know if that’s true,” Felder stated. “Combating’s onerous. It’s onerous on the physique. It’s onerous emotionally. It’s disturbing. It’s scary. I’m not leaping again into it and now that I broadcast, I see it on a regular basis. I see how persons are weight chopping. I see how persons are battle week, the nervousness, the highs and the lows.
“We’re celebrating [Magomed] Ankalaev, however Johnny Walker’s within the again together with his nostril twisted on the opposite facet of his face. There’s a winner and a loser most occasions. I don’t suppose so. If I resolve it’s not proper, I would look again and suppose, ‘I ought to have performed it,’ however I gained’t hate myself.”
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