Paul Felder

Paul Felder (born April 25, 1984) is an American retired professional mixed martial artist and color commentator currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

As a fighter, Felder competed in the UFC's Lightweight division after making his name in Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC).

He is of Irish and German descent.

He began training in martial arts at age 12, starting with Tae Kwon Do and Karate at Zhang Sah.

Felder competed in the AAU Junior Olympic Games for Tae Kwon Do with his cousin Niko Portillo, who was the main inspiration for Felder's fighting career.

Felder attended Ridley High School in Folsom, Pennsylvania, and later the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, for acting, graduating in 2008.

During college, Felder began training in Muay Thai before later transitioning to mixed martial arts.

Due to his karate background, he was given the nickname "The Irish Dragon", a reference to his Irish heritage and fellow karate practitioner Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida.

Felder initially pushed back against the nickname, but it caught on and he stuck with it.

After fellow UFC lightweight fighter Conor McGregor commented that Felder's surname was of German origin, Felder joked in January 2021 that he would use the nickname "The German Dragon" if he ever fought McGregor.

Felder compiled an amateur MMA record of 3–1 and began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2011.

Felder competed entirely in his native Mid-Atlantic states, with most fights for the regional promotion Cage Fury Fighting Championships.

Felder ultimately became Lightweight Champion for the promotion, earning the title with a second-round knockout of Marc Stevens.

Felder then defended his title once, with a second-round knockout of Craig Johnson, before signing with the UFC in August 2014.

Felder made his promotional debut on October 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 54 where he faced Jason Saggo.

Felder won the fight by split decision.

Felder was briefly scheduled to face Johnny Case on January 18, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 59.

However, Felder was tabbed as a replacement against Danny Castillo on January 3, 2015, at UFC 182, replacing Rustam Khabilov.

Felder defeated Castillo via second-round knockout, which earned Felder a Performance of the Night award.

Felder was expected to face Jim Miller on April 18, 2015, at UFC on Fox 15.

However, Felder pulled out of the fight citing a knee injury and was replaced by Beneil Dariush.

Felder faced Edson Barboza on July 25, 2015, at UFC on Fox 16, replacing an injured Myles Jury.

He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Both participants earned Fight of the Night honors.

UFC President Dana White said afterwards that the fight "takes Felder to another level".

Felder faced Ross Pearson on September 5, 2015, at UFC 191.

He lost the back-and-forth fight by a controversial split decision.

Felder faced Daron Cruickshank on January 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 81.

He won the fight via submission in the third round.

Felder next faced Josh Burkman on May 29, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 88.

He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Felder faced Francisco Trinaldo on September 24, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 95.

During the fight, repeated elbows from Trinaldo opened up a large, bloody cut on Felder's face.

With a huge cut and blood streaming down Felder's face, the ringside physician waved the fight off at 2:25 of the third round, resulting in a TKO (doctor's stoppage) loss for Felder.

Felder faced Alessandro Ricci on February 19, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 105.

He won the fight via TKO in the first round due to a combination of an elbow and punches.

The win also earned Felder his second Performance of the Night bonus award.

Felder faced Stevie Ray on July 16, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 113.

He won the fight by knockout in the first round after dropping Ray with a knee strike and subsequently finishing him off with a barrage of ground and pound.

The win also earned Felder his third Performance of the Night bonus award.