Watch Paul Felder start brutal weight cut after accepting Rafael dos Anjos fight on FIVE DAYS’ notice to save UFC Fight Night card

Paul Felder has started his brutal weight cut to face Rafael dos Anjos after accepting the fight on FIVE DAYS notice.

The ‘Irish Dragon’ was meant to be in the commentary booth for UFC Fight Night 182 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

However, after Islam Makhachev withdrew from the main event, it seemed as though the card was in danger of collapsing.

Paul Felder is stepping in to save the day against Rafael dos AnjosGetty Images - Getty

Yet Felder, who contemplated retirement after his loss to Dan Hooker in February, is stepping in to save the day and the veteran cannot wait to make a statement.

Felder told ESPN: “I thought about it and I decided with everything going on in the world and all the sad things going on in people’s lives and losing their jobs and suffering.

“We just lost Alex freaking Trebek to pancreatic cancer, I was like, ‘Man, you know you’re still 36. You’re young. You’re in shape. Save the date. Let’s go get paid. Let’s have fun. You’re fighting a legend.’

“What do I have to lose?”

Felder was considering retirement after his five-round war with Dan Hooker in Feburary2020 Jeff Bottari

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this turn of events is the fact that Felder is willing to fight at lightweight in order to make it happen, despite dreading the cut to 155lbs in the past.

However, given he is currently training for a triathlon, the 36-year-old revealed he is leaner than ever and ready to shock the world on short notice.

Felder added: “I’m much leaner and lighter than I ever would normally be taking a fight on short notice.

“Normally this wouldn’t even be in the cards to even think about because I’d be 195, 198. I’m nowhere near that. I’m well under [180 pounds]. I’m in the 70s.

Rafael dos Anjos is a former lightweight champion and was scheduled to fight Conor McGregorGetty Images - Getty

“So, I’ll give you that. I’m in the 70s. With some time and water-loading and dehydration, I’ll be fine.”

Dos Anjos held the lightweight championship between 2015-2016 and was set to defend against Conor McGregor before injury ruled him out and Nate Diaz stepped in.

He moved up to welterweight, but again found it difficult to build up momentum against the bigger men of the 170lbs division.

Given this is his first run at lightweight in four years, Felder is more than willing to save the day and revealed ambitions of his own.

Dos Anjos struggled against Leon Edwards in 2019Getty Images - Getty

“I think he really wants to be fighting the top guys at 155 to make his comeback and give himself a chance,” Felder continued. “That was one of the stipulations.

“Obviously, we talked about catchweights, but I know with main events, if possible, they like to keep it at the weight class. That was one of the things, ‘Do you think you can make it?’ It’s not going to be fun, but I’m going to make it.”

“I know I’m nearing the end of my career soon.

“This, I think, it’s win-win for me because if I go in there and I can finish and beat RDA, a former champ, then it gives me a lot of selling points to be getting these bigger fights which seem to have been eluding me at the top five of the lightweight division here in the UFC.

“How do you not give me something big after this if I go in there after stepping up? And, if it doesn’t go my way, then I saved the day. I’m going in there to try to win.”