Paul Felder Replaces Makhachev, Meets Rafael dos Anjos in UFC Fight Night 182 Feature

Earlier this year, Paul Felder was contemplating retirement. Instead, he’ll make his next Octagon appearance on just five days’ notice.

Felder will step in for Islam Makhachev and face Rafael dos Anjos in the UFC Fight Night 182 main event on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Despite the short-notice nature of the matchup, it will remain a five-round fight and will still be contested at 155 pounds. ESPN was first to report the new pairing.

Felder last appeared at UFC Fight Night 168 on Feb. 23, when he lost a narrow split decision to Dan Hooker in the evening’s headliner. “The Irish Dragon” publicly mulled retirement in the aftermath of that defeat before ultimately reconsidering that decision. The 35-year-old Roufusport product is 9-5 in his UFC career, with noteworthy triumphs against the likes of Edson Barboza, Charles Oliveira and James Vick. Felder has also become a staple of UFC broadcasts as a commentator.

A former UFC lightweight champion, dos Anjos will make his return to the lightweight division after losing four of his last five promotional appearances at 170 pounds. The 36-year-old Brazilian last competed at UFC Fight Night 166, where he suffered a decision loss to Michael Chiesa on Jan. 25.