UFC 182's Danny Castillo: I've got to teach Paul Felder how to lose

Danny Castillo

It was an early and unwelcome Christmas present for UFC lightweight Danny Castillo (17-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) – watching tape on his injury-replacement opponent and then checking the Internet.

On his resume, Paul Felder (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) holds a 9-0 record and has one UFC victory, a split-call in October over Jason Saggo. He’s defeated opponents who’ve flirted with the octagon – Marc Stevens, who failed to make it past the elimination round of “The Ultimate Fighter 12,” and Julian Lane, the “TUF 16? veteran of “Let me bang, bro” fame.

None of those fighters, however, rang a bell for Castillo, who often thinks of himself as the “forgotten” member of the famed Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, Calif.

“I watched his UFC fight, and who did he fight? The guy he fought was someone I never even heard of,” Castillo told MMAjunkie Radio.

The 35-year-old, 11-fight UFC vet apparently is not a fan of the promotion’s long-running reality show. And he lost Felder in the shuffle of dozens of preliminary cards that stream online and air as teasers to pay-per-view main cards.

“It’s crazy how big the UFC has gotten that there’s so many fighters that are under the radar,” Castillo said. “But in the lightweight division, they’re all super tough.”

Before Felder was installed as his next opponent at Saturday’s UFC 182 event, which takes place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, Castillo was feeling pretty gracious toward his matchmakers. After a split-decision loss to Tony Ferguson in August at UFC 177, he was booked opposite Rustam Khabilov, whose only UFC setback was a submission loss to ex-champ Benson Henderson.

At 3-1 in the octagon, Khabilov remains in the running for a title. He currently is ranked No. 15 in the UFC’s official rankings (though he is unranked in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings).

Reported visa issues forced the promotion to scratch Khabilov from the card, though. Castillo took the news like gift-wrapped coal.

“It’s really disappointing; Rustam was in the top 15, and it would have been a great fight for me,” he said. “I was really fired up for it. Then I got the news, and I’ve never even heard of this kid – no disrespect to him.”

Undiscovered as Felder is, Castillo is smart enough not to assume his opponent is also untalented. When they meet on the FOX Sports 1-televised preliminary card, all the same problems and challenges will be present.

“It’s a dangerous fight for me,” Castillo said. “Even though he doesn’t have much experience, he’s 9-0. I’ve got to go in there and teach him how to lose.”

Although he would prefer it otherwise, Castillo has a lot of experience in that department. In his long career under the Zuffa umbrella, he’s typically only lost to top contenders and former champions. That’s softened the blow somewhat, offering him a long career in lieu of the ultimate recognition he seeks with a UFC title.

But his fortune could change at any moment. Even a lackluster win might not advance his career much, bringing him another unranked opponent in the future.

With only so much time to fulfill his goal, Castillo is feeling the pressure to deliver a highlight-reel performance.

“If I go out there and have a three-round decision over him, it does nothing for my career,” he said. “In fact, it hurts my career and boosts him up that much. I have to finish him and put him away early in order to prove to everyone that I’m as talented as my resume says.”

For more on UFC 182, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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