Samantha Johnson
Jens Pulver: A Left Hand That Hits So Hard It’ll Scare the B’jesus Out of You
Jens Pulver: Too Big to be Small, Too Small to be Big
Jens Pulver: Back to the Fundementals
When you ask Jens Pulver about his life and career he’ll give you an ear full… but it’s always entertaining and full of one-liners. Raised in a small town in the North-West he has the humbleness to make you forget who he is: the first UFC Light Weight title holder- a legend, a Pride veteran, a Shooto veteran, a top 5 Feather weight. All of that and he’s still a guy that will laugh with you one moment and cry with you the next.
From being abused as a child to being beaten by Urijah Faber, Jens has had his share of challenges. He’s overcame adversity to rise to the top of MMA and life. After beating Caol Uno in 2001 for the first every Light Weight title he went on to defend his title twice before leaving the UFC organization. Since then he has competed in Pride, Shooto, IFL and came full circle to find a home with the WEC- owned by Zuffa, LLC who also own the UFC. He’s 21-11-1 professionally and looking to make it an even 22 against Josh Grispi June 7th.
Going into the fight he’s extremely confident, but not overlooking “the Fluke”. He’s gotten back to the basics and stopped looking for the “magic potion” to guarantee wins. Jens realizes that there is no one to blame for his 0-3 losing streak but himself. Josh Grispi is looking for a catapult into the feather weight division, but Pulver won’t go down without a fight. During the training camp Jens said he’s, “getting back to what made me so good in the past.” He is working on his technique and movement- “the fundamentals;” just because he can take a heavy shot doesn’t mean he should.
In the second wind of his career Pulver said he “feels like the old school fighter trying to compete in the new [MMA].” He’s never had an easy fight; every opponent is comes out “gunning for the title every time” because of whom he is. But “Lil’ Evil doesn’t give a second thought to who he’s known publicly as, “I never thought of myself like “Jens Pulver”. He doesn’t think of himself as “a legend, the first ever 155 division champion” guy, to him and those close to him he’s just Jens- an energetic, emotional, good ol’ boy (who just happens to have a “left hand that hits so hard it’ll scare the B’Jesus out of you.”)
The only event Jens is more looking forward to than his fight with Grispi will come twenty-six days after the battle; on that day (July 4) Jens will wed his beautiful girlfriend -and mother of son. At the age of 33, Pulver has achieved so much; but maybe the most meaningful is being a father. His own father was a less-than-desirable example of how to treat your children. The elder Plulver would relentlessly beat Jens, drink to the point of black outs and even pulled a gun on the then-six-year-old Jens. But, after years of coping with the abuse and battling his own demons Jens has been blessed with a beautiful daughter, Madeline (6) and an adorable son, Karson (6 months). His only wish for them is when they “incinerate” him they are able to say “that old bastard did everything he could for us.”
Jens,
I just wanted to stop by and let you know that i was never that much of a fight fan; Then I saw a couple fights of yours on the Vs. channel and WOW I cant get enough MMA. And honestly, seeing the passion you have in the octagon has really inspired me in many parts of my life. So thank you.
Myself and MANY more are in your corner!
Clint
hey jens. i am jealous of your wife (lol, i'm a 21 year old female). all bitterness aside, i wish you two a very long and happy marriage.
Jens, you are my hero no matter what. I love the heart that u fight with, the tenacity is intense. You want to win, so dont quit. You told me one time when i was feeling down. I wrote you a message on myspace when i had one. You actually responded. You said " Hands up, chin down, keep punchin". From that moment on, i have had my first mma fight like a month ago because u told me to keep punchin. I had heart in my fight because i remembered how much i wanted to win, so i won my fight. That was here at the fair grounds... anyways. I love the fighter u are, and i love the person you are. Hands up, chin down, and keep punchin. You will always be my hero. Thank you. - James Lee
congrats on the wedding coming up! what a year, brand new baby boy, getting married. thats a good year for anyone, forget the losses in the octagon, that ain't nothing.
oh yeah, by the way....you're not done fighting yet. not even close. remember who you are, and where you came from, and that you're the same dude who had life trying to kick your ass while growing up and became a world champion. the guy who beat up bigger dudes, came from nothing, beat the odds, beat bj penn. you ain't done, not even close. its just a new chapter. and we know it will be a good one.
there's no magic secret to it. just surround yourself with the right people, the right coaches, the right diet, train hard, have a great game plan, and believe you will win. you have 2 things that 99.9% of all other fighters don't. 1, your toughness. the things you went through growing up, and overcoming that pain, becoming world champ. odds are for you to be in jail, or a high school drop out, but you overcame all the abuse growing up. you are a college graduate, a ufc world champion, a father, and about to be married. that is amazing. number 2, the world is on your side, the people/fans love you, everyone wants you to win. just believe thats the truth, because it is, and let all the great things happen that are coming your way. i know you will wear a world championship belt again, it will happen.
Dear Jens, I am 31 and have been watching you for more then 10 years now. I went to Iraq with the Marine Corps and watched all of your fights. You are a true American Hero, and are respected everywhere. May God bless you and your family. The Jens I know will not give up he will make some else face the furry of that wicked left hand. God Bless, Pat
dont retire ..go back to ur old self! u still got it...
My Jens that was tough but I allways enjoy watching you fight allways no matter the out come your the greates of all time your the reason why I love mma so much just keep you head up and your mind strong and remember you fan are here and we love you to.
P.S- I hope to see you again as a commtator or coach what's the mma world with out a little evil in it(nothing) and I saw your vid a day in the life very cool
Best wishes: chef
my best fighter. jens.
can you remember me. I'm that South korean.
hey, I don't writting to you before this fight.
I Deliberate don't that. b/c I think my letter Grate you.
and I really you got win. So I pray for you and Deliberate don't writte. this is Deliberate change. I wanna change.
In the meantime, I saw all your post man. in fightjungle, facebook, etc.
hey, I got a freind with you in facebook. my name is Eun-taek Oh. South korean. I'm sorry say this thing now. I must say my name early.
I'm just little difficult use facebook. you know facebook's language is all english..
hey. if I disgusted you, I'm sorry. really. I'm just love you and respect you. every my freinds in here south korea, these guys also respect you.
I saw this fight against josh grispi.
man, don't disapointed. I could see your great shape. and great strategy. hey, your wrestling is good. that is correct. I can say you. you improve. I little suprised. you have great shape. many muscle.
hey. I think this time is like acident. fu** guilotine. this is lucky and you just bad luck. if don't you got guilotined, you can still fight man.
trust me. not care win or loss. you have great shape now, and you have good strategy.
I really love you. hey, I support you forever and my best fighter is you. pray for you and way to go. take care jens. cheer up.
from south korean.
dude, you are so funny. i always look forward to reading your posts. sheer genius! you can't make this stuff up!!!!
grats on the wedding and jens will be a great father and husband. also 1 of the greatest fighters to watch fight and listen to in interviews or commentating. tough lost but it was nice to see evil about to mix it up and try for a take down
everyone gets caught, jens. much love from nh. congrats on your upcoming wedding.
I just wanted to say thank you Jens. I would have never been an MMA fanatic if not for you. I hope the Grispi fight isn't the end. You are a true pioneer and legend and deserve to go out as such. The fight was just one of those things that can happen. You looked to be in great shape and I hope this loss doesn't deter you. I have enjoyed watching you fight and seeing you coach on TUF showed a lot of people just what kind of person you are. Thank You and best wishes.
Chuck Allen
Good Luck tonight Jens!
-C.Stricklin
Come on Jens, Beat this guy. I am sick of seeing you lose just because your mind has not been in it. IF they out class you that is one thing, but they have not. You let them beat you. Tim eto remind them why you are called lil evil!