FightPost MMA Fighter of the Week: Paul Felder

FightPost MMA Fighter of the Week: Paul Felder

By Kieran Cobley

This weeks “Fighter of the Week” goes out to Paul Felder after his spirited performance at UFC on ESPN 1, in which he defeated James Vick via a unanimous decision, despite suffering a collapsed lung.

Felder came into this fight off a 2018 that he would like to forget, with the “Irish Dragon” having three fights cancelled, and only fighting once in a losing effort to Mike Perry, which saw “Platinum” take a split decision win.

Felder started the fight well, catching Vick with a big right hand in the first minute of round one, and he continued to land strikes throughout the first round. However, Vick was able to throw some strikes back, and caught Felder with some good shots. Felder finished the round strong though, almost knocking Vick down, before pinning him to the fence to see out the round.

In round two, Vick came out and looked very dangerous, landing a jumping knee to Felder’s midsection before quickly getting a hold of his neck and forcing him into the fence. Felder got off the fence though, and got straight back into the fight, landing a sweet lead left hook to the side of Vick’s head. It was part way through this round where it is thought that Felder may have taken the shot that collapsed his lung.

In the third round, it was clear that Vick would have to finish the fight in order to win, and “The Texecutioner” was well aware of this, as he came out hard and heavy, trying to land the one shot that would put Felder away. Felder was wise to this, and used his clinch to neutralise Vick, before releasing and hitting some heavy punches, causing Vick to lose his balance again and back off. The “Irish Dragon” also utilised his counter striking very well, slipping and then catching Vick with a nasty spinning elbow as Vick came in with punches.

It was clear after the fight that it hadn’t been an easy fight at all for Felder, with marks all over his face from where he had been caught, especially around the eyes, with him team noting in a video later how his pupils were different sizes. Felder remained classy in his interview, shouting out his family and praising Vick.

For suffering and a collapsed lung and still winning the fight, there is no one else that could have taken this week’s honours.

Honourable mentions this week go to Francis N’Gannou, who KO’d Cain Velasquez in 26 seconds, Michael “Venom” Page, who won the grudge match between himself and Paul Daley on Bellator 216, and also to Ian Garry and Adam Wilson, who both had amazing performances on Cage Warriors 101 on Saturday.