On Monday, March 2, nine days after his first UFC main event, Paul Felder caught up with Ariel Helwani on the Helwani MMA Show to discuss his fighting future and the retirement statements he made in his post-fight interview.
Felder, 35, stated that he has a five year-old daughter at home that is starting to miss her dad more and more everytime he leaves to train and get ready for a fight.
He stated in the octagon that that may have been it for him as far as fighting goes, after losing to Dan Hooker by split decision.
Nine days later, Felder addressed the statements he made that night, and this is what he had to say.
“You know, I got a little emotional in there. I really have been thinking about like how many more I have left. I have not been thinking about hanging the gloves up during training camp or thinking that I’m out of contention for really making a run in this division, but it’s been on my mind at 35, I’m turning 36 in april,” said Felder.
Felder is only looking for exciting fights to get him back in the UFC’s octagon from here on out and he feels he’s earned that right.
“I think at this point, it’s safe to say I’m only coming back for things that really entice me man,” said Felder. “Things that are gonna make me train the way I did for this fight. Five round fights, huge matchups with somebody that excites me. Other than that, I’ll just do commentary and wait for that matchup,” said Felder who also happens to be a UFC color commentator and analyst for ESPN.
When Helwani asked Felder if he feels that he’s fought his last fight, he simply replied, “no.”
As far as the kind of opportunities Felder would like to see in the future, he stated that he would like another top five matchup, a fight against Al Iaquinta, or even a rematch against Hooker.
One thing Felder wants for sure is another main event.
“I feel after that main event, proving that I can promote it, that I can hype it up, and that I can execute, that I should only be getting exciting matchups from here on out.”
Felder believes he has many more fights in him, given the right opportunity.
“I think I’ve got a lot more left in me. I’m already recovering from one of the hardest battles of my life. Shit, it’s addictive man. That – that five rounds, that main event, I liked it.”
Felder has been in contact with UFC matchmaker, Sean Shelby since the fight and say’s that the matchmaker will be in contact with him soon to offer him a fight.
