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Paul Felder Highlights Only Potential 'Downside' Of UFC 300 Comeback

Originally posted on MMA News | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated 1/15/24

Formerly ranked UFC lightweight contender Paul Felder is aware of the risks that come with a return from retirement.

Felder, who established himself as a fan favorite throughout a six-year, 15-fight tenure on MMA's biggest stage, hung up his gloves in 2021. The decision came months on from a short-notice defeat at the hands of former champion Rafael dos Anjos.

While "The Irish Dragon" has found himself a home on the commentary desk post-retirement, it appears that his hunger for competition hasn't fully dissipated, and may need to be satisfied one final time.

Having frequently teased a comeback in 2023 and even returned to the USADA testing pool, Felder recently had an opponent and event proposed courtesy of this past weekend's UFC Fight Night co-main event.

After emerging victorious by way of submission over Gabriel Benitez, Jim Miller called for Felder to be on the opposing side of his long-desired UFC 300 outing.

The fighter-turned-analyst's interest is certainly piqued, but the decision is not a straightforward one...

Felder: 'You Don't Want Your Last Image To Be A Bad One...'

During a guest appearance at the post-fight press conference on January 13, Felder swapped the commentary talk for athlete talk, responding positively to Miller's Octagon callout.

But although the 39-year-old revealed that a return fight against "A-10" at the historic April 13 event is on the cards, he is still weighing up the decision and assessing the potential negatives of a comeback.

"I mean, what if it goes terribly wrong?" Felder said. "I've established myself as a broadcaster now. I've been trying to get back into acting... You don't want your last image to be a bad one. It could go wrong. So there's definitely that downside, right? But that's fighting every single time, ever.

"That's the only real downside that I see," Felder continued. "What if there is one more injury at the end of my career? What if I turn down some broadcasting jobs and then I get injured at the last minute and can't make it to the fight? Or Jim gets injured and can't make it to the fight? There's a lot of what ifs in fighting unfortunately."

Felder will likely decide his fighting future soon, with the former ranked lightweight suggesting he'd need to begin preparation as soon as possible should a comeback come to fruition.

If "The Irish Dragon" chooses against another walk to the Octagon, Miller seemingly has another notable option in welterweight knockout artist Matt Brown. "The Immortal" has already given his answer, welcoming a scrap at UFC 300.