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Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Felder Divulges Comeback Discussion With UFC Brass After Jim Miller's Callout

Originally posted on MMA News | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated 2/1/24

As it turns out, talk of former lightweight contender Paul Felder returning to face off against Jim Miller at UFC 300 was quickly shut down.

Soon after his retirement was confirmed in 2022, discourse about Felder making a comeback to the cage rose to the surface. And that was a prominent topic at the start of the new year after a callout from Miller.

After extending his winning run to five victories in six fights at the first UFC event of 2024, "A-10" named the color commentator as a potential option for his long-desired appearance at the historic UFC 300 event in April.

And "The Irish Dragon" fanned the flames while speaking to the media post-fight, acknowledging that a return was possible.

Although it's unclear if that's still the case, it won't be coming against Miller at UFC 300. Instead, the 40-year-old will be facing ranked opposition in Bobby Green.

Felder: UFC Wanted To Give Miller 'Something Close To The Top 10'

During a recent appearance on the Anik & Florian Podcast, Felder detailed the discussion that went on behind the scenes surrounding a potential comeback to fight Miller at UFC 300.

The former fighter-turned-analyst revealed that it was quickly shut down by matchmaker Sean Shelby, who detailed his and UFC CEO Dana White's plan to reward Miller with an opponent "closer to the top 10."

"I reached out to Sean (Shelby)," Felder said. "We were out for dinner and I was like, 'Let me at least just see if it’s even on the table before I get excited.' The media talked to me, I’m like, 'Oh man, this might actually happen.' You start getting those butterflies, those nervous feelings. (I) wanted to go hit pads right then and there... The only reason I was reluctant in the post-fight (press conference) I did was you don’t want to go out and make that decision right then and there in front of everyone.

"I know I should go home, talk to everyone and make sure everyone is on board before I commit to getting into a training camp for the first time in years," Felder continued. "But before I even got to that point, I talked to Sean and he’s like, 'We are looking to give him something closer to the top 10, it’s what me and Dana think is right for him.' ... There is nothing else to be said, I can’t argue. I didn’t even get the ball rolling thinking it was going to happen."

With Miller set for a different challenge on April 13, it's unclear where Felder sits in terms of a return to competition against another fighter down the line.

"The Irish Dragon" called time on his career a few months on from a short-notice main event loss to former champion Rafael dos Anjos up at welterweight.

Prior to that, he'd narrowly fallen on the wrong side of a widely debated decision against Dan Hooker in Auckland, New Zealand. Both contests were awarded Fight of the Night honors.