Jens Pulver - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Jens Johnnie Pulver is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

(MMA). He was the first Ultimate Fighting Championship

Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...

(UFC) lightweight champion and was a coach on the The Ultimate Fighter 5
The Ultimate Fighter 5
The Ultimate Fighter 5 was the fifth season of the Ultimate Fighting Championship produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter...

reality show, which aired on Spike TV

Spike TV

Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...

. He was formerly signed as a featherweight

Featherweight (MMA)

The featherweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Pancrase's featherweight division, which groups competitors within 136 to 145 lb...

with World Extreme Cagefighting

World Extreme Cagefighting

World Extreme Cagefighting was an American mixed martial arts promotion. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship , in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was made up of 3 weight classes: 135, 145 and 155 lbs. To accommodate the smaller...

(WEC), which is owned by Zuffa (the parent company of the UFC). Pulver holds notable wins over BJ Penn, Caol Uno

Caol Uno

is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan...

and Dennis Hallman

Dennis Hallman

Dennis Lloyd Hallman is an American professional mixed martial artist from the U.S. state of Washington. A former state champion wrestler, Hallman is known best for his expertise as a grappler. He has appeared in many fight organizations, including UFC, Strikeforce, IFL, Shooto, Rumble on the...

. He is one of only two men to defeat Penn at lightweight

Lightweight (MMA)

The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb...

, the other being current UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar.

Early life

The son of a licensed horse jockey, Jens Pulver grew up in Maple Valley, Washington

Maple Valley, Washington

Maple Valley is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 22,684 at the 2010 census.-History:The area was first settled in 1879 by three men who were improving a trail and brought their families in. When a name for a future community was proposed, the names Vine Maple...

(approximately a half hour drive from Seattle

Seattle, Washington

Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...

). He was the oldest of four children (two brothers, Dustin and Abel, and one sister, Jamaica). Pulver has heterochromia

Heterochromia

In anatomy, heterochromia refers to a difference in coloration, usually of the iris but also of hair or skin. Heterochromia is a result of the relative excess or lack of melanin...

, a harmless medical condition that gives eyes different colors; in Pulver's case his right eye is blue, while his left eye is brown.

Pulver was raised in what he referred to as a "daily hell." His childhood house was one of continual violence and abuse, stemming mostly from his alcoholic father. Many examples of the abuse Pulver faced as a youth are depicted in his autobiography, Little Evil, One Ultimate Fighter's Rise to the Top, the most extreme of which include an incident where his father threatened the then-seven-year-old Jens by placing a gun in Jens' mouth and then removing it, stating, "you aren't worth the bullets."

Pulver is the subject of the book NEVER by Timothy McKinnon, which discusses his lifelong struggles and successes with depression, family and religion, all of which are inextricably entwined with his career as a professional MMA fighter.

Martial arts background

The summer before he entered sixth grade, Pulver was introduced to a friend of the family, Jack Vantress. Vantress encouraged Pulver to join a youth wrestling

Wrestling

Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...

program. He went on to wrestle at Tahoma High School in Maple Valley, earning two state championships. Pulver wrestled for Highline Community College where he became an NJCAA All-American by placing in the top eight at the NJCAA National Championships. He then wrestled for Boise State University

Boise State University

Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...

(BSU), before an injury (bilateral fracture of the wrists) eventually ended his amateur wrestling career. Pulver eventually graduated from BSU with a degree in criminal justice

Criminal justice

Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...

.

While in college, Pulver's interests shifted from wrestling to mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts

. He found early success fighting in unsanctioned "underground" events, before befriending Lowell Anderson, the owner of a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...

(BJJ) academy ninety miles north of Boise, Idaho

Boise, Idaho

Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...

. Lowell got Pulver involved in sanctioned MMA events, namely the Bas Rutten

Bas Rutten

Sebastiaan "Bas" Rutten is a retired Dutch mixed martial artist, Karate and Taekwondo blackbelt, and kickboxer. He was a UFC Heavyweight Champion, a three time King of Pancrase world champion, and finished his career on a 22 fight unbeaten streak...

Invitational in April 1999. Pulver won one match, then lost the second due to his lack of martial arts training. He fought again in the third incarnation of the Bas Rutten Invitational, winning both his fights and impressing then-UFC matchmaker, John Perretti.

Pulver moved to Lockeford, California in 1999 where he briefly trained at the Lion's Den

Lion's Den (mixed martial arts)

The Lion's Den is a mixed martial arts team and training facility that was based out of Susanville, California and San Diego, California but has recently moved its headquarters to Reno, Nevada. The team was founded in the early 1990s by UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock, and was the most dominant...

and then joined Shamrock 2000, a short lived camp formed by Bob Shamrock (the foster father of Ken

Ken Shamrock

Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...

and Frank Shamrock

Frank Shamrock

Frank Shamrock is a retired mixed martial arts fighter. Shamrock was the first to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship and retired as the four-time defending undefeated champion...

). Pulver noted that there was a little kid who would show up at the gym to hit the bags in those days named Nick Diaz

Nick Díaz

Nicholas Robert Diaz is an American mixed martial artist. He is the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion, WEC and IFC Welterweight Champion. He has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride Fighting Championships and Elite Xtreme Combat. Diaz was promoted to black belt in Brazilian...

with his younger brother Nate, both of whom later became MMA stars. Pulver, who hated his name because it was the same as his father's, even asked Bob at one point if he could take the Shamrock name since Bob was the first real father figure he felt he ever had. Bob told him: "You go out there and make the Pulver name mean something good." (Pulver would later go on to become the first 155-pound champion in UFC history.) Pulver wanted to fight full-time, but they did not have the right training partners for him. Shamrock put him in contact with Monte Cox and sent him to Iowa, where Pat Miletich

Pat Miletich

Patrick Jay Miletich is a retired American mixed martial artist and a current sports commentator. He is known for his fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he became the first UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC 16 tournament champion....

was starting a camp where he could train full-time.

Professional career

Pulver began competing in the UFC in September 1999. He fought four times in the UFC before gaining a title shot against top ranked Japanese

Japanese people

The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...

Fighter Caol Uno

Caol Uno

is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan...

in February 2001. Pulver won the title by unanimous decision, becoming the first UFC World Lightweight Champion. He defended his title twice (against Dennis Hallman

Dennis Hallman

and B.J. Penn) before leaving the organization due to contractual problems. Pulver became famous for his combination of defensive wrestling and boxing

Boxing

Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...

strategies colloquially called "sprawl and brawl" in MMA circles.

Pulver vs. Hallman

Pulver's first title defense came against Dennis Hallman

Dennis Hallman

(best known for his two wins against former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes

Matt Hughes (fighter)

Matthew Allen Hughes is an American mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Famer, and former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion. Hughes put together two separate six-fight winning streaks in the UFC, won the welterweight title on two occasions, defended the belt a record seven times, and holds the...

).

Following a second win over Hughes, Hallman dropped down a weight class and fought Pulver for the Lightweight Championship in September 2001. Pulver and Hallman had both wrestled in the same state (Washington) in high school. In pre-fight interviews, Hallman claimed to personally know and dislike Pulver, but Pulver denied any personal relationship, instead asserting that he only knew Hallman as a fellow state high school wrestling champion.

During the fight, Hallman secured an armbar on Pulver, but Pulver countered the technique and later landed a left hook flush on Hallman's chin. Hallman fought passively for the remainder of the fight, seemingly unable to recover completely from that blow, and Pulver eventually won by unanimous decision.

Pulver vs. Penn

Pulver's second title defense came against B.J. Penn. Before his transition to mixed martial arts, Penn was the most highly decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in America and the first American-born to win the World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials).

Upon his impressive debut against wrestler Joey Gilbert (a first round TKO), Penn rose quickly through the rankings. Penn, already known for his grappling, quickly stunned the MMA community by showcasing incredible striking skills; quickly knocking out highly regarded Din Thomas

Din Thomas

Din Yero Thomas is an American mixed martial arts fighter and part time break dancer, who was featured on The Ultimate Fighter 4. He currently runs two successful Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA academies in Port St. Lucie, Florida and is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Liborio...

, then knocking out Caol Uno

Caol Uno

is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan...

within eleven seconds of the first round. Heading into the fight with Pulver, Penn had never fought longer than the first round. The speed in which Penn was defeating opponents had many MMA journalists suggesting he was unbeatable.

Pulver's performance in the fight is considered the high point of his career. Penn pressed the action early; taking Pulver to the mat numerous times, achieving a full mount on him twice in the second round and securing a straight armbar, completely hyper-extending Pulver's arm as the seconds ticked off the clock ending the second round.

Pulver battled back in the third round, successfully defending Penn's attempts to take him to the ground, and even scoring defensive takedowns on Penn. Pulver frustrated Penn with nothing more than sheer will power, not only winning the later rounds, but out-grappling the world-renowned Penn. In the fifth round, Penn, frustrated and down on points, chose to stand and trade with Pulver. For the entire five minutes of the fifth round the two stood toe to toe exchanging strikes. With 45 seconds left in the round, a left hand from Pulver staggered Penn, who looked in trouble. However, Penn countered with a right kick straight to the groin, resulting in a 50 second time-out. Although the time-out gave Penn time to recover, when the bout was restarted, Pulver staggered him a second time with 20 seconds remaining. However, the round drew to a conclusion and the fight went into the judges' hands.

Pulver won the fight via majority decision. Breaking into tears during the post-fight interview, Pulver shouted, "On the ground again!...I've been beat on my whole life, this is nothing." This was BJ Penn's only loss at 155, until Penn's loss to Frankie Edgar in UFC 112 on April 10, 2010, a period over 8 years.

Leaving the UFC

After leaving the UFC, Pulver's career slumped slightly with two consecutive losses. He regained his winning ways by dropping down a weight class (to 145 lb). Along the same time, Pulver also began competing as a professional boxer, winning all four of his fights in 2004, including a fight on the nationally syndicated USA Network

USA Network

USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...

. During this time Pulver fought in various other MMA promotions, including Shooto

Shooto

Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...

, Pride and the IFL

International Fight League

The International Fight League was an American mixed martial arts promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. It was founded on January 7, 2006 and closed on July 31, 2008...

, as well as one match in the Shootboxing kickboxing

Kickboxing

Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....

promotion, where he defeated 2004 Sanda champion Dai Chang Liang. After this match, Pulver moved back up to the lightweight division in December 2004 in the Pride Fighting Championships.

Pride

His first match in Pride was against then current and last Pride lightweight (160 lb) champion Takanori Gomi

Takanori Gomi

, is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gomi is a former Shooto Welterweight Champion and was the last and only Pride Lightweight Champion. He is also a four-time All Japan Combat Wrestling champion. During his time in Pride he was considered...

. Pulver and Gomi demonstrated excellent boxing skills and was both regarded as putting on the best boxing fight in an MMA bout. This was stopped short when Gomi delivered a vicious uppercut that knocked out Pulver 6:29 into the first round. This led to a match against Tomomi Iwama, which he defeated his opponent via knock out one minute into the fight with a left hook.

He then faced Japanese star Hayato Sakurai

Hayato Sakurai

is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He was born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He has a professional MMA record of 35-11-2 as of April 5, 2009. Sakurai has been fighting in mixed martial arts since October 1996 and was at one time considered pound for pound one of the greatest fighters...

, who would go on to win in a fast paced see-saw affair that showcased both the toughness and heart of Pulver, and the experience and technicality of Sakurai. During the fight, Pulver was accidentally thumbed in the eye by Sakurai, which left a corneal abrasion on his eye. Even still Pulver managed to knock down Sakurai with a left hook in the latter part of the first round however Sakurai eventually won by landing punches into Pulver 8:56 into the fight which then the referee stopped the fight.

His final fight in Pride, against Kenji Arai, was an entertaining battle of strikers which ended when Pulver knocked Arai down with a right-left combination, and finished him with a soccer kick

Soccer kick

A soccer kick is a reference to a kick that is similar to kicks used in association football. For short distanced passes, the instep or the outside of the foot can be used...

to the head, earning the TKO.

Return to the UFC

At UFC 63
UFC 63
UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 23, 2006. The event took place at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California and was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and Canada....

Pulver returned to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the newly reinstated lightweight division. He was matched up against UFC-newcomer Joe Lauzon

Joe Lauzon

Joseph E. Lauzon Jr. is an American mixed martial artist from Brockton, Massachusetts. He currently lives in Massachusetts and is training at Lauzon MMA in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.-Early life and background:...

. Pulver was a 7:1 favourite to win the match, but Lauzon quickly defeated the former Lightweight Champion by knockout at the 48-second mark of the first round. After the fight, Pulver apologized for his performance and indicated that he still desired to make his UFC comeback.

Pulver was a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 5
The Ultimate Fighter 5
The Ultimate Fighter 5 was the fifth season of the Ultimate Fighting Championship produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter...

reality television show, which hosted sixteen lightweight fighters, including Joe Lauzon. His counterpart on the show and rival coach, was B.J. Penn. The two coaches were scheduled to fight in the season finale, in which Pulver was defeated by a rear naked choke

Rear naked choke

The Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases...

in the second round. After the fight, Pulver announced his intentions to drop down to featherweight and fight in the WEC. He also made overtures toward Penn to set aside their differences and train together.

World Extreme Cagefighting

On July 17, 2007, it was announced Pulver would be making his World Extreme Cagefighting debut against Cub Swanson

Cub Swanson

Kevin Luke Swanson is an American mixed martial artist . He is currently signed as a featherweight with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-World Extreme Cagefighting:...

at WEC 30
WEC 30
WEC 30: McCullough vs. Crunkilton was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting . The event took place on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and aired live on the Versus Network....

on September 5, 2007.
Pulver had to pull out of the match with Cub Swanson due to a knee injury. The fight was subsequently rescheduled for the December 12 World Extreme Cagefighting

World Extreme Cagefighting

card. Pulver won the rescheduled match by guillotine choke at 35 seconds of the first round and announced his intentions to make a run for the 145 lb title which Urijah Faber

Urijah Faber

Urijah Christopher Faber is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization. Faber won the WEC featherweight championship at WEC 19 on March 17, 2006 and held the title for over two years until his loss to Mike Brown at WEC...

currently held and had defended successfully against, Jeff Curran

Jeff Curran

Jeffrey M. Curran is an American mixed martial artist. He fights at a number of different weight classes for a large number of organizations, including: Ultimate Fighting Championship , Strikeforce, PRIDE Fighting Championship, World Extreme Cagefighting , International Fight League , and King of...

on the same card.

Pulver and Faber met at WEC 34

WEC 34

WEC 34: Faber vs. Pulver was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on June 1, 2008 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. The main event, announced on WEC 33, was a bout between Jens Pulver and Urijah Faber for the WEC Featherweight Championship. WEC 34...

on June 1, 2008. Neither man was able to finish the other and the fight went the full five rounds. The judges scored the bout a unanimous decision for Faber, 50–45, 50–44 and 50–44. This fight marked the first time that one of Pulver's fights at featherweight had gone to decision, the first time Pulver had been defeated at that weight class and also the first time one of Faber's fights in the WEC had gone the distance. Pulver stated after the fight that he wanted another shot at the title, but wanted "to earn it".

Pulver next fought Leonard Garcia

Leonard Garcia

Leonard Garcia is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He previously fought for the UFC in the lightweight division before moving down to the featherweight division in the World Extreme Cagefighting...

at WEC 36

WEC 36

WEC 36: Faber vs. Brown was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on November 5, 2008 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida...

on November 5, after the original date of September 10 was postponed due to the threat of Hurricane Ike. He suffered a TKO loss in the first round as the Greg Jackson-trained Leonard Garcia stunned Pulver with a left-right combination, then finished Pulver with more strikes as he went to one knee against the fence.

At WEC 38

WEC 38

WEC 38: Varner vs. Cerrone was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on January 25, 2009. It aired live on the Versus Network....

, Pulver lost to Faber in a rematch of their WEC 34 encounter when Pulver succumbed to a guillotine choke in the first round.

After his second loss to Faber, Pulver replaced Frank Mir

Frank Mir

Francisco Santos Miranda is an American mixed martial artist, as well as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpō Karate, who competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and a former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion...

as color commentator

Color commentator

A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...

for World Extreme Cagefighting

World Extreme Cagefighting

at WEC 39

WEC 39

WEC 39: Brown vs. Garcia was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on March 1, 2009 in Corpus Christi, Texas. The event aired live on the Versus Network....

.

At WEC 41

WEC 41

WEC 41: Brown vs. Faber 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on June 7, 2009 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. It was the most successful show in the WEC's history....

, Pulver was submitted by Josh Grispi via Guillotine Choke within the first minute of the match. “I think I just ended in the same place I started,” Pulver said emotionally to the crowd after losing 8 of his past 12 encounters. “I’m not saying I’m done yet, but it’s been incredible."

Pulver returned at WEC 47

WEC 47

WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on March 6, 2010. It was held at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio-Background:...

to face Javier Vazquez

Javier Vazquez (fighter)

Javier Vazquez is an Cuban-American mixed martial artist currently fighting for The UFC's featherweight division. He was previously fighting for the WEC before the UFC merged the promotions in 2010. He is the son-in-law of Rorion Gracie....

on March 6, 2010. Pulver lost via submission due to an armbar at 3:41 of the first round. Pulver has lost 9 out his last 13 fights.

In the aftermath of Pulver's loss at WEC 47

WEC 47

WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on March 6, 2010. It was held at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio-Background:...

, UFC President Dana White

Dana White

Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...

confirmed that Pulver had been released from the WEC.

After World Extreme Cagefighting

Pulver met Diego Garijo on August 14, 2010 in Irvine, California, losing the bout by submission via guillotine choke

Guillotine choke

The guillotine choke is a chokehold in martial arts and wrestling applied from in front of the opponent. The choke involves using the arms to encircle the opponent's neck in a fashion similar to a guillotine. The technique is either a type of tracheal compression restraint that prevents air flow...

in the first round. This was Pulver's sixth straight loss.

Pulver was next scheduled to face Frank Johnson at CFX/Extreme Challenge 170 on December 11 at the Target Center

Target Center

The Target Center is an arena in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is sponsored by Target Corporation. The arena has a capacity of 20,500 people. It contains 702 club seats and 68 suites....

in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minnesota

Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...

. But Pulver pulled out of the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by Mitch Jackson.

Pulver headlined XFO 38 against Mike Lindquist on January 22, 2011, where he won the fight by submission (rear naked choke) at 0:49 in the first round. This marked Pulver's first victory in just over 3 years, snapping a 6 fight losing streak.

On March 5, 2011 Pulver defeated Wade Choate by split decision despite breaking his foot in the first round of the fight. The victory marks his second consecutive win.

Pulver fought fellow World Extreme Cagefighting

World Extreme Cagefighting

veteran, Coty Wheeler

Coty Wheeler

Coty Wheeler is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights for the WEC. He lost his fight to Charlie Valencia at WEC 43 on October 10, 2009.Wheeler lost to Will Campuzano via unanimous decision on January 10, 2010 at WEC 46...

at MMA Fight Pit presents "Genesis" on August 13, 2011 in New Mexico. Pulver won the fight via 2nd round TKO in a dominant performance. http://mmajunkie.com/news/24808/mma-fight-pit-genesis-results-alexander-earns-doctors-call-pulver-stops-wheeler.mma

Personal life

Pulver has a daughter named Madeline, and married his fianceé Kannika on July 4, 2009. The couple had their first child together, a son named Karson Jens Pulver on December 16, 2008.
Pulver is an avid PC gamer, who continues to play World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...

.

Jens is featured in a documentary about his training camp, personal life and difficult childhood called "Jens Pulver": Driven.

Championships and accomplishments

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
- UFC Lightweight Championship (1 Time, First)

World Extreme Cagefighting
World Extreme Cagefighting
World Extreme Cagefighting was an American mixed martial arts promotion. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship , in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was made up of 3 weight classes: 135, 145 and 155 lbs. To accommodate the smaller...
- Fight of the Night (1 Time)

Mixed martial arts record

|-
| Win
|align=center| 25–15–1
|

Coty Wheeler

|TKO (punches)
| MMA Fight Pit: Genesis

MMA Fight Pit: Genesis

MMA Fight Pit: Genesis was the inaugural mixed martial arts event held by MMA Fight Pit. The event took place on August 13, 2011 at The Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico.-Background:The event aired live on PPV in the U.S...

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

Armando Amezcua
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| Titan Fighting Championships 18

Titan Fighting Championships 18

Titan FC 18: Pulver vs. Davidson was a mixed martial arts event held by the Titan Fighting Championships on Friday, May 27, 2011 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas...

Kansas City, Kansas

Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...

, USA
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 24–14–1
|

Villa Park, Illinois

Villa Park is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County, Illinois. The population was 22,075 at the 2000 census. A special census in 2003 set the population at 22,517...

, USA
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 23–14–1
|

Woodstock, Illinois

Woodstock is a far northwest suburb of Chicago in McHenry County, Illinois. The population was 20,151 at the 2000 census. The 2010 Census shows 24,770 residents. It is the county seat of McHenry County...

, USA
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 22–14–1
|

Irvine, California

Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...

, USA
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 22–13–1
|

Javier Vazquez

Javier Vazquez (fighter)

| Submission (armbar)
| WEC 47

WEC 47

WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on March 6, 2010. It was held at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio-Background:...

Columbus, Ohio

Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...

, USA
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 22–12–1
|

Josh Grispi

Josh Richard Grispi is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC featherweight division.-Background:Grispi started mixed martial arts training when he was 13. It was suggested to him by his dad as an outlet when he got kicked out of a paintball facility after repeated scuffles with...

| Submission (guillotine choke)
| WEC 41

WEC 41

Sacramento, California

Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...

, USA
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 22–11–1
|

Urijah Faber

| Submission (guillotine choke)
| WEC 38

WEC 38

WEC 38: Varner vs. Cerrone was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on January 25, 2009. It aired live on the Versus Network....

San Diego, California

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

, USA
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 22–10–1
|

Leonard Garcia

| TKO (punches)
| WEC 36

WEC 36

WEC 36: Faber vs. Brown was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on November 5, 2008 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida...

Hollywood, Florida

-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...

, USA
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 22–9–1
|

Urijah Faber

| Decision (unanimous)
| WEC 34

WEC 34

Sacramento, California

, USA
| For WEC Featherweight Championship; Won Fight of the Night Honors
|-
| Win
|align=center| 22–8–1
|

Cub Swanson

Kevin Luke Swanson is an American mixed martial artist . He is currently signed as a featherweight with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-World Extreme Cagefighting:...

| Submission (guillotine choke)
| WEC 31

WEC 31

WEC 31: Faber vs. Curran was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting . The event took place on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and was aired live on the Versus Network....

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

, USA
| WEC

World Extreme Cagefighting

B.J. Penn
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale

The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale

The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 23, 2007. Featured were the finals from The Ultimate Fighter 5 in the Lightweight division as well as a main event between B.J. Penn and Jens Pulver.- Preliminary card :*Lightweight...

Las Vegas, Nevada

, USA
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 21–7–1
|

Joe Lauzon

| KO (punch)
| UFC 63

UFC 63

UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 23, 2006. The event took place at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California and was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and Canada....

Anaheim, California

Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 21–6–1
|

Cole Escovedo

Cole Escovedo is an American mixed martial artist from Fresno, California currently fighting for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...

| KO (punch)
| International Fight League

International Fight League

The International Fight League was an American mixed martial arts promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. It was founded on January 7, 2006 and closed on July 31, 2008...

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 20–6–1
|

Kenji Arai

is a Japanese footballer.-Career:Arai entered professional football with Albirex Niigata after graduating from Rissho University in 2001 but was unable to hold on to the first team place although he played 20 league games for Albirex Niigata in his first season...

| KO (soccer kick)
| Pride Bushido 10

PRIDE Bushido 10

Pride Bushido 10 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan on April 2, 2006...

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

Hayato Sakurai

| TKO (punches)
| Pride Bushido 9

PRIDE Bushido 9

Pride Bushido 9 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. This event held the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of the first ever Welterweight tournament and Lightweight tournament. It took place at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan on September 25, 2005. Under Bushido...

|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 8:56
| Tokyo, Japan
| Pride 2005 Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals
|-
| Win
|align=center| 19–5–1
|

Tomomi Iwama
| KO (punch)
| Pride Bushido 7

PRIDE Bushido 7

Pride Bushido 7 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Differ Ariake in Tokyo, Japan on May 22, 2005.- Charles Bennett vs Yoshiro Maeda:...

|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:00
| Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 18–5–1
|

Takanori Gomi

| KO (punch)
| Pride Shockwave 2004

PRIDE Shockwave 2004

Pride Shockwave 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. The event took place at the Saitama Super Arena on December 31st, 2004...

Saitama Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...

, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 18–4–1
|

Stephen Palling
| KO
| Shooto

Shooto

Hawaii: Soljah Fight Night
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 1:47
|Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 17–4–1
|

Naoya Uematsu
| KO (punch)
| Shooto

Shooto

2004: 3/22 in Korakuen Hall

Korakuen Hall

is an arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted many boxing, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts matches. Part of Tokyo Dome City, it is one of Tokyo's biggest attractions. It opened on April 16, 1962 and has a capacity of approximately 1,800 people. The venue hosted the boxing...

Tokyo

, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 16–4–1
|

Richard Hess
| Submission (choke)
| International Fighting Championships

International Fighting Championships

International Fighting Championships is an American mixed martial arts organization. Founded in 1996, the IFC was the vision of longtime martial artist and kickboxing promoter, Howard Petschler. Howard recognized that MMA would finally solve a lot of the problemsassociated with martial arts as a...

Boise, Idaho

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 15–4–1
|

Joe Jordan

Joe Jordan (fighter)

Michael Joseph Jordan is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division. He won his last fight at Andrenaline MMA 3 against Juan Zapata on June 13, 2009. A request has been sent to Sherdog.com to correct Joe Jordan's record...

| KO
| Extreme Challenge 52
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 3:12
|Rock Island

Rock Island, Illinois

Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...

, Illinois

Illinois

Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

Duane Ludwig

Duane Paul Ludwig is an American Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is the former Middleweight Muay Thai world champion, and currently fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championships in their welterweight and lightweight divisions...

Montreal

Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...

, Quebec

Quebec

Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....

, Canada
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 14–2–1
|

Tokyo

, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 13–2–1
|

Rob Emerson

Robert Michael Emerson is an American mixed martial artist. Emerson is a former Pancrase and King of the Cage fighter. He was a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter 5.-The Ultimate Fighter:...

Minnesota

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12–2–1
|

B.J. Penn
| Decision (majority)
| UFC 35

UFC 35

UFC 35: Throwdown was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on January 11, 2002...

Uncasville, Connecticut

Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...

, United States
| Defended UFC Lightweight Championship
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–2–1
|

Dennis Hallman

| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 33

UFC 33

UFC 33: Victory in Vegas was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 28, 2001. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on home...

Las Vegas, Nevada

, Nevada

Nevada

Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...

, United States
| Defended UFC Lightweight Championship
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–2–1
|

Caol Uno

is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan...

| Decision (majority)
| UFC 30

UFC 30

UFC 30: Battle on the Boardwalk was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey on February 23, 2001...

Atlantic City, New Jersey

, United States
| Won Vacant UFC Lightweight Championship
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–2–1
|

John Lewis

John Lewis (fighter)

John Lewis is an American former mixed martial arts champion, UFC veteran, and a popular MMA/martial arts instructor considered a legend throughout the mixed martial arts world...

| KO (punch)
| UFC 28

UFC 28

UFC 28: High Stakes was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 17, 2000 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.-History:...

Atlantic City, New Jersey

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–2–1
|

Sioux City, Iowa

Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....

Din Thomas

| Submission (heel hook)
| WEF: New Blood Conflict
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 0:33
| United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–1–1
|

Joao Roque

João Roque is a former Pluma weight Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt World Champion and a retired Angola mixed martial artist. He competed in the Featherweight division in MMA ....

| Decision
| UFC 26

UFC 26

UFC 26: Ultimate Field Of Dreams was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 9, 2000 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.-History:...

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–1–1
|

Evansville, Indiana

Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–1–1
|

David Velasquez
| TKO (strikes)
| UFC 24

UFC 24

UFC 24: First Defense was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 10, 2000 at the Lake Charles Civic Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana.-History:...

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–1–1
|

Phil Johns

Phil "Little Giant" Johns is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division. He lost his last fight at FCC 22 - Freestyle Combat Challenge 22 against Sherron Leggett on March 18, 2006....

Rome, Georgia

Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...

, Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

Alfonso Alcarez
| Draw
| UFC 22

UFC 22

UFC 22: Only One Can be Champion was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 24, 1999 at the Lake Charles Civic Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana.-History:...

Lake Charles, Louisiana

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–1
|

Joe Stevenson

Joseph Christopher Stevenson is an American mixed martial artist fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Competing as a welterweight, he won The Ultimate Fighter 2 welterweight tournament. Stevenson fought most of his UFC career as a lightweight, and made his featherweight debut at UFC Live: Kongo vs....

Colorado

Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–1
|

Colorado

Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

Littleton, Colorado

Littleton is a Home Rule Municipality contained in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Littleton is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area. Littleton is the county seat of Arapahoe County and the 20th most populous city in the state of...

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
|

Littleton, Colorado

, United States
|

Kickboxing record

Date	Result	Record	Opponent	Event	Method	Round	Time
1 Wins (1 (T)KO's), 0 Losses, 0 Draws
2004-09-19	Win	1-0	Dai Chang Liang	Shoot Boxing World Tournament 2004 Yokohama Yokohama is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu... , Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...	TKO (Referee stoppage)	1	2:58

Professional boxing record

Jeff Hinds
|KO || 3, 0:13
|October 22, 2004 || Rosemont, Illinois, United States ||Welterweight
|-align=center
|Win
|3-0
|align=left|

Leonard Lewis
|TKO || 1, 0:41
| August 27, 2004 || Rosemont, Illinois, United States || Light Middleweight
|-align=center
|Win
|2–0
|align=left|

Steve Vincent
|Split decision || 4
|June 15, 2004 || Elk Grove Village, Illinois, United States || Light Middleweight
|-align=center
|Win
|1–0
|align=left|

Matt Bauler
|TKO || 1, 0:32
|February 28, 2004 || Marshalltown, Iowa, United States || Middleweight
|-align=center

Works

Pulver, Jens and Krauss, Erich (2003) Little Evil, One Ultimate Fighter's Rise to the Top, ECW Press

External links

Jens Pulver official website

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Early life

Martial arts background

Professional career

Pulver vs. Hallman

Pulver vs. Penn

Leaving the UFC

Pride

Return to the UFC

World Extreme Cagefighting

After World Extreme Cagefighting

Personal life

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Kickboxing record

Professional boxing record

Works

See also

External links