Paul Felder Explains Why He Accepted Short-Notice Bout vs. Rafael dos Anjos

It’s one thing to accept a fight on short notice. It’s entirely another to do so less than one week before facing a former champion in a headlining bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

For Paul Felder, stepping up to face Rafael dos Anjos in the UFC Fight Night 182 headliner was an opportunity to do something positive in a what has been a dark period for so many people.

“I thought about it and I decided with everything going on in the world and all the sad things going on in people’s lives and losing their jobs and suffering and we just lost Alex freaking Trebek to pancreatic cancer, I was like, ‘Man, you know you’re still 36. You’re young. You’re in shape. Save the date. Let’s go get paid. Let’s have fun. You’re fighting a legend,’” Felder told ESPN. “What do I have to lose?”

Perhaps even more impressive than Felder’s willingness to step up was the fact that he agreed to compete at 155 pounds. After all, Dos Anjos is just coming off a stint at welterweight, so it would make since for both competitors to agree to fight at a heavier weight. However, these are different circumstances than normal for Felder.

"Any other time, this would have been impossible. But Paul has been biking and swimming like a mad man. He woke up this morning and his health data says he's peaking. The universe wanted this to happen," said Felder’s manager, Brian Butler.

Added Felder: “I’m much leaner and lighter than I ever would normally be taking a fight on short notice. Normally this wouldn’t even be in the cards to even think about because I’d be 195, 198. I’m nowhere near that. I’m well under [180 pounds]. I’m in the 70s. So, I’ll give you that. I’m in the 70s. With some time and water-loading and dehydration, I’ll be fine.”

There’s also the matter of maintaining the integrity of the main event. It will be dos Anjos’ first 155-pound bout since 2016, and Felder wanted to accommodate the Brazilian veteran as best he could.

“I think he really wants to be fighting the top guys at 155 to make his comeback and give himself a chance,” Felder said. “That was one of the stipulations. Obviously, we talked about catchweights, but I know with main events, if possible, they like to keep it at the weight class. That was one of the things, ‘Do you think you can make it?’ It’s not going to be fun, but I’m going to make it.”

Felder contemplated retirement following a split-decision loss to Dan Hooker in February, but ultimately reconsidered in hopes of pursuing bigger fights. A main event against dos Anjos fits that bill, and a victory could be a steppingstone to more marquee bookings.

“I know I’m nearing the end of my career soon. This, I think, it’s win-win for me because if I go in there and I can finish and beat RDA, a former champ, then it gives me a lot of selling points to be getting these bigger fights which seem to have been eluding me at the top five of the lightweight division here in the UFC. How do you not give me something big after this if I go in there after stepping up? And, if it doesn’t go my way, then I saved the day. I’m going in there to try to win,