Diego Ferreira (photo via YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Diego Ferreira says he’s not taking a verbal shot at Paul Felder, but the surging lightweight believes his fellow contender is trying to “avoid” him.

It’s not clear when and who Ferreira will fight next, as the lightweight was supposed to face Drew Dober on May 2nd, before the COVID-19 pandemic led to the bout’s cancellation. Recently the 35-year-old spoke with MMA Junkie, and while Ferreira said he’s willing to fight Dober next, he made it clear he wants to face Felder.

“I’m interested to fight. I just don’t like to be hanging for too long,” Ferreira said. “For me, I like to be busy, and Dober’s been doing real good, like myself, and I think the fans want to see that, too. But at first I really wanted to fight with Paul Felder or Al Iaquinta. It’s not because I want to move up in the rankings. I think it makes sense more in the fight. But if Dober wants to fight, I’m down to fight.

“I’d like to fight Paul Felder. I think he’s trying to avoid me. I think he tries to make it seem like he doesn’t know me, but he knows me. I’m not disrespecting him at all. I just want to fight him and get the spot I deserve, and I want to see how far I can go. I think that’s the fight that really makes sense for me. But if it doesn’t happen, I’m ready to fight anybody. I just don’t like to stay in a corner for too long.”

Ferreira (17-2) is coming off a submission win over Anthony Pettis in January and he’s won six straight bouts.

Felder (17-5) dropped a tightly contested, split decision loss to Dan Hooker in his last outing, this past February. Since then, the veteran has said he’ll only return to the cage for big fights that excite him.

Currently Ferreira is ranked #8 in the UFC’s lightweight division and Felder is #7.