Jens Pulver Announces Retirement Following Latest Loss at WEC 41
Former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver announced on Sunday at WEC 41 that his hall of fame career had likely come to an end following a first-round submission loss to Josh Grispi, his fourth-straight defeat.
After getting taken to the canvas in the opening seconds of the fight, “Lil Evil” was forced to tap to a guillotine choke just 33-seconds into the Versus-televised contest.
“I started right here, and I’m not going to be that guy who keeps saying he’s retiring, but I think I just ended where I started,” an emotional Pulver told the ARCO Arena crowd in Sacramento, California. “This has been an incredible run.”
A winner of just three of his last ten bouts, Pulver went just 1-6, including losses to Urijah Faber, BJ Penn, Joe Lauzon, and Leonard Garcia, since resigning with Zuffa and returning to the UFC in 2006. Following a major upset loss to Lauzon in his UFC return in September 2006, Pulver appeared as a coach on the Ultimate Fighter 5 before suffering a loss in a rematch with opposing coach Penn in mid-2007. After defeating Cub Swanson in December 2007 in his WEC debut, Pulver would lose four-straight to Faber (twice), Garcia, and Grispi.
Pulver peaked between 2000 and 2002, becoming the first UFC lightweight champion with a victory over Caol Uno in early-2001, then defended the title twice with victories over Dennis Hallman and Penn before relinquishing the belt to fight outside of the Octagon.
Pulver ends his career with a 22-12-1 record.
Tags: Jens Pulver
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As much as I hate hearing and seeing him go out like this, it was 3 fights too late.
well, in fairness to jens, (in my opinion) he still deserves to be in the UFC hall of fame.
no doubt
That’s a hell of a stable of fighters in his last 10 fights.
can never say he ducked anyone
It was an honor to have been there to see his last win.
This probably came maybe 1 or 2 fights too late, but when you’re a future UFC Hall of Famer, you get to choose when and where you hang them up.
Best of luck in whatever Lil’Evil pursues next. IMO he’d be a great trainer, maybe in the Pat Miletich mold.
Cant really see him being a hall of fame kinda guy . Since he joined Pride in 2004 he’s lost 8 of 12 fights including losing 7 of his last 10 . He did have a run early in his career kinda but seemed to do better in the smaller shows .No doubt he didnt duck anyone , but on the same note he didnt do so well against them either . Most of his losses were in the first round .
If Ken Shamrock and Mark Coleman are in there you have to include Jens. He was the first UFC lightweight champion and not to mention losses outside the UFC apparently don’t count towards your record for hall of fame guys…wins do though
At least he realizes that it’s over and he’s going out gracefully. I’ve always liked his attitude and the fact he’d fight anyone.
I hate to see Jens Pulver go out like this. I was rooting for him to get the win and at least go out on a win, but it’s not meant to be.
He’s had a great run and deserves all the respect that he gets and should be inducted into the UFC Hall Of Fame for sure.
Cheers Lil Evil on a great career.
It’s definitely overdue….frankly he just walked into that submission. He didn’t really look like he wanted to fight.
I think he most definately should be in the Hall of Fame. He has Class-
sometimes people don’t always realize how hard life can be. He has always spoken honestly from what I have seen. I wish him well and know he will find/be given/fall into something worthy of Him. He deserves to. Let me just say that I am close to someone who took some of the Fame away from him. This person has Great Respect for him – and so should everyone else. Why do people always KICK you when you are down. I think we need to give a hand to others who maybe have had their Glory but are now moving on. Best of Luck Jens – You will do well!!!!
Thank for being the person you are.