Former UFC lightweight Paul Felder is the last man to beat the current lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira. The Philadelphia native recently spoke out about the champion and had some very positive things to say.

Paul Felder recently spoke to Helen Yee about the UFC lightweight champion. He made a bold prediction on the future of Charles Oliveira as champion.

“I think he can, I really do,” Felder said about the UFC champion. “I think the way he’s evolving, the way he’s just getting more stronger and confident I think that’s the key for him. Years ago, even when I beat him, he seemed a bit broken.

“He didn’t know where he wanted to be, whether it was gonna be 145 or 155. I remember from my fight he posted a picture of the scale for his Instagram and it was 155.5. This is three days before weigh-ins. So, he’s clearly trying to show the UFC, ‘Look, I wanna be 145.’

“But I think after I beat him and then he went on that absolute tear, he found that confidence, he changed whatever he needed to and now I think he’s got what it takes to be atop of that division for a long time.”

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There is a lot of speculation on who should be the next person to face the UFC lightweight champion. Paul Felder went with the popular pick.

“If you ask me, and I’m going by the numbers, I think it’s Gaethje for sure for me, then the winner of Islam and Beneil, that’s the next contender. There’s no doubt in my mind but Conor’s that wrench in everything and whether we like it or not, the guy [draws].

“So, if Charles tries to do that I mean I can’t technically blame him. You want that money fight but that’s not what it should be. It should be Gaethje and then it should be the winner of Islam and Beneil.”

The UFC commentator clearly has a good outlook on the lightweight division. It will be interesting to see if his predictions come true.