Paul Felder Is Not Happy About UFC 223 Removal

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Paul Felder spoke about being removed from tonight’s UFC 223 PPV card. Felder was set to be named as a replacement in the main event against Khabib Nurmagomedov, but the New York State Athletic Commission ruled that he couldn’t main event because he was unranked. His original opponent, Al Iaquinta, got the spot instead and Felder was removed entirely. Here are highlights:

On his disappointment at not being on the show: “I was the team at dinner, having some sushi and at first I was emotional and upset. Still feel that way, but what am I going to do? I made weight, so I’ll get my making weight money and stuff like that. I’ll be there. I’m still going to go and see this thing go down. Now I’m just scratching my head and, what card do I want to jump on? I booked all these commentary gigs. I’ve got like four of them lined up, but if I want to rush right back, and I’m in camp, I can’t do them. So I either just push my fight back and fight in September or something like that.”

On how he wants UFC to make up for it: “I know there’s rumors (the UFC is) going to Milwaukee. I said to my manager, and it’s not that they owe me anything, but I feel they should at least give me another ranked opponent. I wasn’t really that high up on this card, because it was pay-per-view. I want a main event. Since I signed with UFC I wanted to main event something. So the way they can make it up to me is give me a good opponent, give me a five-round (expletive) fight, and let’s fight a five-rounder and headline a card and get my ass on a poster and let’s go.”

On possibly fighting Anthony Pettis instead: “(Nurmagomedov) was the only possibility. Me and Anthony have done this whole entire camp together. We’re not going to (fight). Of course, my management said it right away, if it was even asked. No way.”