Philly's Felder looks to extend MMA streak

Paul Felder was celebrating with a few friends at a Philadelphia pub the Sunday after he knocked out Craig Johnson to defend his Cage Fury Fighting Championship lightweight title. It was the spinning heel kick heard around the MMA world, and certainly one that would change his life.

"I'll never forget the day," Felder said. "I was relaxing with some friends at a bar when my teammates started to show up. Then my manager, Rob Haydak, and fight professor, Daniel Gracie, rolled up and wanted to make a cheers to me for making it to the UFC. I laughed and told them not to jinx me. They were like, 'No, Paul, you're in.' They pulled out their phone and showed me an email from [UFC vice president] Joe Silva saying they wanted me to join the UFC.

"It was pretty surprising, to be honest. We knew that we had to be on their radar since I won the CFFC belt and had some highlight-reel knockouts. I thought I was a couple of fights away, at least."

Felder (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), kept his unbeaten record alive in his UFC debut by outlasting Jason Saggo in a close split decision in Halifax, Canada. Just months later, Felder, also known as "The Irish Dragon," proved why he deserved to compete for the world's top promotion. Midway through the second round of his lightweight showdown with UFC veteran Danny Castillo at UFC 182, Felder dropped his opponent with a spinning back fist.

The knockout finish earned Felder a 'Performance of the Night' for $50,000. Above all else, those who hadn't heard of Felder were well aware of the new contender in the UFC's 155-pound division.

Felder, 31, will look to continue his success when he faces Edson Barboza (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) at UFC on FOX 16 on Saturday in Chicago. The card will begin at 8 p.m. EDT.

"I'm beyond blessed to have this platform and to live out my dream on a daily basis," Felder said. "I want to represent my family and city well."

Despite the sudden fame, Felder remains the same unpretentious guy who grew up on 29^th Street in Philadelphia.

Felder had a passion for competitive team sports as a youngster, delighting in winning and loathing the thought of losing. At 12, he developed a passion for an individual sport, mixed martial arts.

Felder continued to practice the different aspects of MMA, such as kickboxing and boxing, even after his family left Philadelphia and he enrolled at Ridley High School, but he never envisioned a career in the sport.

After high school graduation, Felder decided to pursue an entirely different passion and enrolled at the University of the Arts. While his love for acting was strong, he knew he had been called to do something different.

Felder made ends meet by bouncing at local night clubs and bartending. It was not the lifestyle Felder had in mind, and he was far from content with the direction in which his life was heading.

In November 2011, Felder hung up the excuses and began chasing his dream. He began intense training at the Renzo Gracie Academy in Philadelphia.

The next month,  Felder entered the cage for his first pro fight. In Atlantic City, under the Cage Fury Fighting Championship banner, he defeated Mtume Goodrum on a technical knockout. He won his next five fights and earned a bout against Marc Stevens for the CFFC lightweight championship on March 22, 2014 in his hometown. "The Irish Dragon" made quick work of Stevens, winning by TKO in the second round.

Several months later, Felder defended his lightweight title against Craig Johnson at CFFC 38. A minute into the second round, he connected on the spinning heel hick that reverberated.