Jens Johnnie Pulver (born December 6, 1974) is an American mixed martial artist (MMA). He was the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion and was a coach on the The Ultimate Fighter 5 reality show, which aired on Spike TV. He was formerly signed as a featherweight with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), which is owned by Zuffa (the parent company of the UFC). Pulver holds notable wins over BJ Penn, Caol Uno, Cub Swanson and Dennis Hallman. He is one of only two men to defeat Penn at lightweight, the other being former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar.
The son of a licensed horse jockey, Jens Pulver grew up in Maple Valley, Washington (approximately an hour's drive from Seattle). He was the oldest of four children (two brothers, Dustin and Abel, and one sister, Jamaica). Pulver has heterochromia, 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, "Shit, ain't worth a bullet."
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.
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 program. He went on to wrestle at Tahoma High School[2] 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 (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.[3]
While in college, Pulver's interests shifted from wrestling to mixed martial arts. He found early success fighting in unsanctioned "underground" events, before befriending Lowell Anderson, the owner of a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) academy ninety miles north of Boise, Idaho. Lowell got Pulver involved in sanctioned MMA events, namely the Bas Rutten Invitational in April 1999.[3] 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 and then joined Shamrock 2000, a short lived camp formed by Bob Shamrock (the foster father of Ken and Frank Shamrock).[4] 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 with his younger brother Nate, both of whom later became MMA stars.[4] 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.[4] Bob told him: "You go out there and make the Pulver name mean something good."[4] (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 was starting a camp where he could train full-time.[4]
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 Fighter Caol Uno 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 and B.J. Penn) before leaving the organization due to contractual problems. Pulver became famous for his combination of defensive wrestling and boxing strategies colloquially called "sprawl and brawl" in MMA circles.
Pulver's first title defense came against Dennis Hallman (best known for his two wins against former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes).
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'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, then knocking out Caol Uno 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.
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.[5] During this time Pulver fought in various other MMA promotions, including Shooto, Pride and the IFL, as well as one match in the Shootboxing kickboxing 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.
His first match in Pride was against then current and last Pride lightweight (160 lb) champion Takanori Gomi. 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, 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 to the head, earning the TKO.
At UFC 63 Pulver returned to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the newly reinstated lightweight division. He was matched up against UFC-newcomer Joe Lauzon. Pulver was a 7:1 favorite to win the match, but Lauzon quickly defeated the former Lightweight Champion via one punch 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 keep fighting in the UFC.
Pulver was a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 5 reality television show, which hosted sixteen lightweight fighters, including the man who knocked him out previously, Joe Lauzon. His counterpart on the show and rival coach, was B.J. Penn whom Pulver defeated previously before. The two coaches were scheduled to fight in the season finale, in which Pulver was defeated by a rear naked choke 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 but Pulver has also said that he would welcome a third fight with Penn.
On July 17, 2007, it was announced Pulver would be making his World Extreme Cagefighting debut against Cub Swanson at WEC 30 on September 5, 2007.[6] Pulver had to pull out of the match with Cub Swanson due to a knee injury.[7] The fight was subsequently rescheduled for the December 12 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 currently held and had defended successfully against Pulver's teammate and longtime Jiu-Jitsu coach, Jeff Curran on the same card.[8]
Pulver and Faber finally met at 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 infamous brawler Leonard Garcia at WEC 36 on November 5, after the original date of September 10 was postponed due to the threat of Hurricane Ike.[9] In a surprising turn of events, Pulver suffered a TKO loss in the first round as the Greg Jackson-trained Leonard Garcia stunned Pulver with a left-right combination, then swarmed Pulver with more punches against the cage fence.
At WEC 38, Pulver once again lost to Faber in a rematch of their WEC 34 encounter when Pulver succumbed to a guillotine choke early in the first round.
After his second loss to Faber, Pulver temporarily replaced Frank Mir as color commentator at WEC 39.
At WEC 41, 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."[10]
Pulver returned at WEC 47 to face Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Javier Vazquez on March 6, 2010.[11] 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, UFC President Dana White confirmed that Pulver had been released from the WEC.[12]
Pulver met Diego Garijo on August 14, 2010 in Irvine, California, losing the bout by submission via guillotine choke in the first round.[13] 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 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[14] 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.[15]
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.[16]
Pulver fought fellow World Extreme Cagefighting veteran, Coty Wheeler 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.[1]
Pulver fought Timothy Elliott at Resurrection Fighting Alliance on December 16, 2011 and lost the fight via second round KO(knee). In a post fight speech, Elliott thanked Jens for accepting the fight, and referred to him as his number one inspiration for being a mixed martial artist.
On March 26, 2012, it was announced that Pulver had signed with UK promotion Cage Warriors.
On April 14, 2012, Pulver defeated All Army Combatives Flyweight Champion Jesse Thorton by unanimous decision in Fort Hood, Texas.[2]
Pulver has a daughter named Madeline,[17] and married his fianceé Kannika on July 4, 2009.[18] The couple had their first child together, a son named Karson Jens Pulver on December 16, 2008 and welcomed daughter Hayden in 2011..[19]
Pulver is an avid PC gamer, who continues to play World of Warcraft.[20]
Jens is featured in a documentary about his training camp, personal life and difficult childhood called "Jens Pulver": Driven.[21]
| Professional record breakdown |
|
| 43 matches |
26 wins |
16 losses |
| By knockout |
14 |
7 |
| By submission |
4 |
8 |
| By decision |
8 |
1 |
| Draws |
1 |
| Result |
Record |
Opponent |
Method |
Event |
Date |
Round |
Time |
Location |
Notes |
| Win |
26–16–1 |
 Jesse Thorton |
Decision (unanimous) |
Operation: Fight Night |
02012-04-14April 14, 2012 |
3 |
5:00 |
Fort Hood, Texas, United States |
Flyweight Bout |
| Loss |
25–16–1 |
Tim Elliott |
KO (knee) |
Resurrection Fight Alliance |
02011-12-16December 16, 2011 |
2 |
2:12 |
Kearney, Nebraska, United States |
|
| Win |
25–15–1 |
Coty Wheeler |
TKO (punches) |
MMA Fight Pit: Genesis |
02011-08-13August 13, 2011 |
2 |
1:59 |
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States |
Bantamweight debut |
| Loss |
24–15–1 |
Brian Davidson |
Submission (rear naked choke) |
Titan Fighting Championships 18 |
02011-05-27May 27, 2011 |
1 |
4:00 |
Kansas City, Kansas, United States |
|
| Win |
24–14–1 |
Wade Choate |
Decision (split) |
Chicago Cagefighting Championship III |
02011-03-05March 5, 2011 |
3 |
5:00 |
Villa Park, Illinois, United States |
|
| Win |
23–14–1 |
Mike Lindquist |
Submission (rear naked choke) |
XFO: 38 |
02011-01-22January 22, 2011 |
1 |
0:49 |
Woodstock, Illinois, United States |
|
| Loss |
22–14–1 |
Diego Garijo |
Submission (guillotine choke) |
Powerhouse World Promotions: War on the Mainland |
02010-08-14August 14, 2010 |
1 |
1:08 |
Irvine, California, United States |
|
| Loss |
22–13–1 |
 Javier Vazquez |
Submission (armbar) |
WEC 47 |
02010-03-06March 6, 2010 |
1 |
3:41 |
Columbus, Ohio, United States |
|
| Loss |
22–12–1 |
Josh Grispi |
Submission (guillotine choke) |
WEC 41 |
02009-06-07June 7, 2009 |
1 |
0:33 |
Sacramento, California, United States |
|
| Loss |
22–11–1 |
Urijah Faber |
Submission (guillotine choke) |
WEC 38 |
02009-01-25January 25, 2009 |
1 |
1:34 |
San Diego, California, United States |
|
| Loss |
22–10–1 |
Leonard Garcia |
TKO (punches) |
WEC 36 |
02008-11-05November 5, 2008 |
1 |
1:12 |
Hollywood, Florida, United States |
|
| Loss |
22–9–1 |
Urijah Faber |
Decision (unanimous) |
WEC 34 |
02008-06-01June 1, 2008 |
5 |
5:00 |
Sacramento, California, United States |
For WEC Featherweight Championship; Won Fight of the Night Honors |
| Win |
22–8–1 |
Cub Swanson |
Submission (guillotine choke) |
WEC 31 |
02007-12-12December 12, 2007 |
1 |
0:35 |
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
WEC debut |
| Loss |
21–8–1 |
B.J. Penn |
Submission (rear naked choke) |
The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale |
02007-06-23June 23, 2007 |
2 |
3:12 |
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
|
| Loss |
21–7–1 |
Joe Lauzon |
KO (punch) |
UFC 63 |
02006-09-23September 23, 2006 |
1 |
0:47 |
Anaheim, California, United States |
|
| Win |
21–6–1 |
Cole Escovedo |
KO (punch) |
International Fight League: Legends Championship 2006 |
02006-04-29April 29, 2006 |
1 |
0:56 |
Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |
|
| Win |
20–6–1 |
 AraiKenji Arai |
KO (soccer kick) |
Pride Bushido 10 |
02006-04-02April 2, 2006 |
1 |
3:59 |
Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Loss |
19–6–1 |
SakuraiHayato Sakurai |
TKO (punches) |
Pride Bushido 9 |
02005-09-25September 25, 2005 |
1 |
8:56 |
Tokyo, Japan |
Pride 2005 Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals |
| Win |
19–5–1 |
IwamaTomomi Iwama |
KO (punch) |
Pride Bushido 7 |
02005-05-22May 22, 2005 |
1 |
1:00 |
Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Loss |
18–5–1 |
GomiTakanori Gomi |
KO (punch) |
Pride Shockwave 2004 |
02004-12-31December 31, 2004 |
1 |
6:29 |
Saitama City, Saitama, Japan |
|
| Win |
18–4–1 |
PallingStephen Palling |
KO (punch) |
Shooto Hawaii: Soljah Fight Night |
02004-07-09July 9, 2004 |
3 |
1:47 |
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States |
|
| Win |
17–4–1 |
UematsuNaoya Uematsu |
KO (punch) |
Shooto 2004: 3/22 in Korakuen Hall |
02004-03-22March 22, 2004 |
1 |
2:09 |
Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Win |
16–4–1 |
HessRichard Hess |
Submission (choke) |
International Fighting Championships: Battleground Boise |
02003-10-25October 25, 2003 |
1 |
2:14 |
Boise, Idaho, United States |
|
| Win |
15–4–1 |
JordanJoe Jordan |
KO |
Extreme Challenge 52 |
02003-08-15August 15, 2003 |
2 |
3:12 |
Rock Island, Illinois, United States |
|
| Loss |
14–4–1 |
MaxwellJason Maxwell |
KO (strikes) |
HOOKnSHOOT: Absolute Fighting Championships 3 |
02003-05-24May 24, 2003 |
1 |
4:54 |
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States |
|
| Loss |
14–3–1 |
LudwigDuane Ludwig |
KO (punch) |
UCC 12: Adrenaline |
02003-01-25January 25, 2003 |
1 |
1:13 |
Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
|
| Win |
14–2–1 |
MurahamaTakehiro Murahama |
Decision (split) |
UFO: Legend |
02002-08-08August 8, 2002 |
3 |
5:00 |
Tokyo, Japan |
|
| Win |
13–2–1 |
EmersonRob Emerson |
Decision |
UW: Ultimate Wrestling |
02002-06-29June 29, 2002 |
3 |
5:00 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States |
|
| Win |
12–2–1 |
PennB.J. Penn |
Decision (majority) |
UFC 35 |
02002-01-11January 11, 2002 |
5 |
5:00 |
Uncasville, Connecticut, United States |
Defended UFC Lightweight Championship |
| Win |
11–2–1 |
HallmanDennis Hallman |
Decision (unanimous) |
UFC 33 |
02001-09-28September 28, 2001 |
5 |
5:00 |
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
Defended UFC Lightweight Championship |
| Win |
10–2–1 |
UnoCaol Uno |
Decision (majority) |
UFC 30 |
02001-02-23February 23, 2001 |
5 |
5:00 |
Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |
Won Vacant UFC Lightweight Championship |
| Win |
9–2–1 |
LewisJohn Lewis |
KO (punch) |
UFC 28 |
02000-11-17November 17, 2000 |
1 |
0:15 |
Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |
|
| Win |
8–2–1 |
GriesDave Gries |
KO |
Gladiators 10 |
02000-10-14October 14, 2000 |
N/A |
N/A |
Sioux City, Iowa, United States |
|
| Loss |
7–2–1 |
ThomasDin Thomas |
Submission (heel hook) |
WEF: New Blood Conflict |
02000-08-26August 26, 2000 |
2 |
0:33 |
United States |
|
| Win |
7–1–1 |
 RoqueJoão Roque |
Decision |
UFC 26 |
02000-06-09June 9, 2000 |
3 |
15:00 |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States |
|
| Win |
6–1–1 |
HiblerEric Hibler |
KO |
WEF 9: World Class |
02000-05-13May 13, 2000 |
1 |
1:54 |
Evansville, Indiana, United States |
|
| Win |
5–1–1 |
VelasquezDavid Velasquez |
TKO (strikes) |
UFC 24 |
02000-03-10March 10, 2000 |
2 |
2:41 |
Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States |
|
| Win |
4–1–1 |
JohnsPhil Johns |
KO (punch) |
WEF 8: Goin' Platinum |
02000-01-15January 15, 2000 |
1 |
0:33 |
Rome, Georgia, United States |
|
| vDraw |
3–1–1 |
AlcarezAlfonso Alcarez |
Draw |
UFC 22 |
01999-09-24September 24, 1999 |
2 |
5:00 |
Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States |
|
| Win |
3–1 |
StevensonJoe Stevenson |
KO (punches) |
Bas Rutten Invitational 3 |
01999-06-01June 1, 1999 |
1 |
0:38 |
Colorado, United States |
|
| Win |
2–1 |
MoralesRay Morales |
Submission (guillotine choke) |
Bas Rutten Invitational 3 |
01999-06-01June 1, 1999 |
1 |
0:51 |
Colorado, United States |
|
| Loss |
1–1 |
HarrisDavid Harris |
Submission (toe hold) |
Bas Rutten Invitational 2 |
01999-04-24April 24, 1999 |
1 |
11:57 |
Littleton, Colorado, United States |
|
| Win |
1–0 |
HillCurtis Hill |
TKO (towel) |
Bas Rutten Invitational 2 |
01999-04-24April 24, 1999 |
1 |
3:00 |
Littleton, Colorado, United States |
|
| 4 Wins (3 knockouts, 1 decisions), 0 Losses |
| Res. |
Record |
Opponent |
Type |
Rd., Time |
Date |
Location |
Notes |
| Win |
4-0 |
Jeff Hinds |
KO |
3, 0:13 |
October 22, 2004 |
Rosemont, Illinois, United States |
Welterweight |
| Win |
3-0 |
Leonard Lewis |
TKO |
1, 0:41 |
August 27, 2004 |
Rosemont, Illinois, United States |
Light Middleweight |
| Win |
2–0 |
Steve Vincent |
Split decision |
4 |
June 15, 2004 |
Elk Grove Village, Illinois, United States |
Light Middleweight |
| Win |
1–0 |
Matt Bauler |
TKO |
1, 0:32 |
February 28, 2004 |
Marshalltown, Iowa, United States |
Middleweight |
- Pulver, Jens and Krauss, Erich (2003) Little Evil, One Ultimate Fighter's Rise to the Top, ECW Press
