Paul
Felder (17-6) has taken another step towards coming out of
retirement.
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After confirming a return to the UFC’s drug testing pool in
September, the
Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor turned commentator
has now submitted his first test samples. The news was reported this week by Damon Martin of MMA
Fighting.
Felder hasn’t fought since dropping a split verdict against
Rafael
dos Anjos in November 2020. It was the Philadelphia native’s
second split decision loss in a row, and “The Irish Dragon”
announced his retirement while on commentary duty during a UFC
Fight Night broadcast in May 2021, citing the lack of a drive to
compete anymore.
However, an iconic clash of veterans Max
Holloway and Chan Sung
Jung at “UFC Singapore” in August got Felder thinking about a
possible return to the Octagon. The 38-year-old wrote on social media in the aftermath of the fight,
“@KoreanZombieMMA got me wanting to go once more… damn you zombie.
Seeing him face that crowd one last time. Epic moments. Can’t get
that main event out of my mind.” Despite his newfound enthusiasm to
compete, Felder, who has fought for the UFC at 170 as well as 155
pounds, was quick to turn down a fan’s suggestion that he take
on undefeated welterweight contender Shavkat
Rakhmonov.
Felder confirmed his return to the testing pool in September while
working alongside fellow former fighter Michael
Bisping at the pre-fight broadcast for UFC Fight Night 226 in
Paris. However, he clarified at the time that it didn’t necessarily
guarantee a return to action:
“I did it just in case [I do end up fighting again]. I’m getting
old, and there might be some old dudes out there that might want to
dust it up in six months. Other than that, I have no idea. I’m
enjoying training, I want to help out Michael, I really want to get
back in the gym in Philly as well and start getting on the mat with
those guys. I’ve truly missed it.”
Per current protocols, Felder will have to undergo six months of
testing before being cleared to fight, unless the UFC’s drug
testing policy undergoes major changes with its change in testing
partners. The promotion will be parting ways with the United States
Anti-Doping Agency starting 2024, with the testing program being
taken over by Drug Free Sport International.