Paul Felder interested in welcoming Michael Chandler to the UFC
While former Bellator lightweight champion has made the move over to the UFC and has signed to be the backup for the lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje, other lightweights have been open to being Chandler’s first fight in the UFC. Guys like Dustin Poirier, Dan Hooker, and Tony Ferguson have already been open to facing Chandler, and now Paul Felder has thrown his name into the mix as well.
After there was a failed booking between Poirier and Chandler, there were rumors that Chandler could face Ferguson, before the promotion announced he’d be the backup to the title fight, but now Felder is interested in welcoming him to the UFC. During a media session on Fight Island, Felder was asked about a potential fight with Chandler and said he hasn’t heard from the promotion yet but he’d be open to it.
.@FelderPaul would absolutely be interested in welcoming @MikeChandlerMMA to the #UFC:
"Who cares where they're from? If they're good, they're good."
Watch full video: https://t.co/HcJlsePQ0q pic.twitter.com/cLL52gr7jv
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) September 29, 2020
“No [haven’t heard anything]. I would’ve at least asked when the date was and talked to the team and figured out a training camp potentially. I’ve made it known that that’s a fight I’d be interested in, I even texted Dana White when he was first talking to Chandler saying ‘Hey if you need somebody to introduce him to the big show, then I’d be interested.’ I have no disrespect towards Chandler, I think he’s a great athlete and I’m excited he’s over.”
Felder would continue on by saying that he’s excited that the UFC is taking the jump and going after champions like Chandler, who will finally get to answer questions about facing top UFC competition that have followed him throughout his career.
“That what if has always been there [for Chandler] I’m glad that the UFC’s doing that, being more interested and reaching out to these other champions and bringing them over. It’s having better guys, who cares where they’re from, if they’re good, they’re good. Let’s have them compete against the best guys in the world.”
The list of opponents for Michael Chandler continues to grow with Paul Felder throwing his name in the mix, as the lightweight division awaits his UFC debut. With Chandler scheduled to be the backup at UFC 254, it’ll be interesting to see if they look to book him into a fight before or after the scheduled title fight.
