Paul Felder is experiencing MMA under a new light.
The former UFC lightweight contender and now retired fighter finds himself on the outside looking in on event nights. Felder (17-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC), who fought under the UFC banner for almost six years, has been working as a color commentator for the UFC for the past four years.
And although Felder is very happy and fulfilled with his role as commentator, the 37-year-old admits there are some not-so-pleasant things that come with the job – specifically fighter criticism.
“It drives me nuts when a fighter complains about us, and I take it to heart,” Felder told MMA Junkie Radio.”That’s why I snapped at (Marvin) Vettori and we had a back-and-forth because me and (Daniel Cormier) and Dominick (Cruz). We were one of you guys.
“So if they don’t like what we say or they think we’re biased, it really does upset us. I can tell you on a personal note that we all talk about that, and these are things that we think about. We want to do justice and diligence to these men and women that fighting in that cage. I love (commentating). It’s one of the reasons I was able to retire early.”
Felder understands the frustration from athletes in regard to commentary. “The Irish Dragon” admits fighters are very sensitive to criticism. He’s not just pointing fingers, either. Felder said he was part of that bunch.
“One hundred percent (they are sensitive) – no doubt about it,” Felder said. “We’re a sensitive group, and I was, too. I can speak for myself, when I was fighting and someone would say this, it would drive me nuts all day.
“I’d be walking around all day pissed off, and my girlfriend would ask me, ‘What’s wrong?’ My mom would ask me. ‘I got into a Twitter battle today,’ or ‘One of the broadcasters said they didn’t think I won the Edson (Barboza) fight.’ Whatever it was, it would make me upset for the rest of the day.”
Felder hopes fighters understand it’s the broadcaster’s duty to call the action as they see it. He does admit to feeling more freedom now that he’s retired, because fighters have less ground to stand on when trying to accuse him of being biased or trying to pick a fight.
“It’s great because now I can say whatever I feel,” Felder said. “There’s no agenda for me to get a fight, especially in my division. If I want to say, ‘I think so-and-so won,’ it doesn’t matter. That’s my opinion. That’s what I’m paid to do now, and people need to realize that.
“I feel like in sports broadcasting, and now I realize maybe some of the guys that I gave crap to or the Eagles fans gave crap to, I see in a different light now because that guy is just giving his opinion, which is what he is paid to do. Granted, he’s paid to be equal and honest with what’s in front of him.
“But I’m going to say what I see, and I do feel I have more freedom to be a broadcaster now and on-air personality. I’m not a fighter. I’m not fighting any of you guys. So if they want to complain about it, I’m going to come at you from an intellectual standpoint and not from, ‘Let’s beat each other up.’ It’s not happening. … It’s been kind of a relief. I like it.”
Paul Felder says MMA fighters are a ‘sensitive group,’ details UFC commentary struggles
