Paul Felder Feels For Guys Who Won at Contender Series 2 But Didn’t Get Contract

Paul Felder spoke (via MMAjunkie) about doing analysis for Dana White’s Contender Series 2. The highlights are below:

On the competitors in the series: “I can only imagine what that feels like. Because I’m in (the UFC) now. So when I win a fight, there’s nothing else you’re waiting on other than the bonuses. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t. But you still won your fight, you’ve got your job. (These guys) are not here for the money. They’re here to get the contract. So I really feel for the guys who got finishes tonight and still can’t get a contract. But it’s cut-throat. That’s our business. If you can’t get used to it now, you should just give it up.”

On the fighters who win but don’t get picked up: “You’re still getting paid, you’re still fighting, you’re still putting wins on your record. That’s what I like about the Contender Series. It’s just elevating these guys’ performances, but they’re still getting paid and still getting wins.”

On doing commentary for Sidney Outlaw’s fight: “He’s a former teammate of mine and a guy I like very much. But I was pretty harsh on him because you know you’re here to get a contract, right? Or are you here to win whatever money you’re getting on your contract for the one fight tonight? Because that’s what it looked like. And I’ll tell him that honestly. He knows that. He’s probably upset right now because of that.”

On Sean O’Malley getting a contract: “Like Dana said, it’s not just about what you did tonight. It’s about what you’ve been doing and about what he thinks you can continue to do. ‘That’s a guy that we think has got the ability to go and be unorthodox. And he’s got a look about him.’ You know what I mean? I hate to say that that matters, but it does. But first and foremost, the kid gets knockouts. So, all that other stuff is just icing on the cake.”

On doing commentary: “It was fun, man. I’m kind of just still all over the place, because I literally just fought two days ago. I was talking about it yesterday, I was like, ‘My fight,’ and I’m like, ‘I fought last night.’ And I’m in Vegas now, doing this. I’m going home tonight. And I’ll see my daughter and all that kind of stuff. And eat some junk.”