(Jens Pulver finds himself in an all-too-familiar spot against Urijah Faber at WEC 38. Photo courtesy of WEC.tv.)
From JensPulver.com via MMA Mania:
well shit. damn that body shot hurt like no other and damned if I fell into his choke, and well fight is over. I never meant to get all emotional in the interview after the fight but when he asked me if I am still relevant it got me thinking. I could hear the crowd and boy I have to tell you it was loud and really started to move me inside that cage. Thus the F bomb at the end, I guess I was saying that to myself just happened to be out loud. There is nothing but doubt running through my mind, wondering if I am hanging on to long or am I really just at the point of turning things around. I do feel great when I am getting prepared, just had so many things going against me this time it was tough to get away for a good solid two months to give myself the best chance of winning. I do not know where I am gonna go from here and I do not know if you all just watched the last fight for lil evil. I know this I have battled all they put in front of me and I know I have always tried to do my best out there. I have been open and honest for the most part when talking and answering any question asked. I love this sport and I have loved watching it grow and become bigger and bigger as each month passes. I guess it is time to just go home and figure out where to go next. I can say this it has been an honor to fight in front of all of you who have taken the time [to] watch and all of you who take the time to come on here and say whats up. I wish you all the best in the world. again my apologies to my family, my camp at AMC and to my fans.
Sucks to hear a legend like Pulver come face-to-face with the end of the line. But to me, Pulver’s loss to Urijah Faber on Sunday didn’t prove much — we already knew he couldn’t hang with the California Kid. Any fighter needs to do some serious re-evaluation after taking three straight losses, but the WEC can at least partially be blamed for Pulver’s last one. They’re the ones who booked him against Faber (again) after he was already on a two-fight skid, and didn’t let him postpone the match to March even though he was dealing with a new baby and the death of a close friend.
Between the two losses to Faber, Pulver got wrecked by Leonard Garcia, who may become the WEC’s next 145-pound champion. But in his first fight in the WEC, he choked out the very-respectable Cub Swanson in 35 seconds. Has Pulver really deteriorated that much in the last two years, or did he just run into Garcia on a good night, and Faber on any night? Why pack it in when you’re still skilled enough to beat good fighters (though not great ones), and when fans still love to watch you compete? Or is there no point when you know you’ll never be a champion again?
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Comments
Tue, 01/27/09 - 01:13
jens is still the man, even if he cant beat the man. wait wut?
Tue, 01/27/09 - 01:15
What does a guy like Jens do when his competitive career is over? commentary? coaching? I mean how many of these spots are open for former fighters? kinda sad when you think about it
Tue, 01/27/09 - 01:19
If not for that little Mofo right here Faber, Garica, Brown all those smaller fighters would not have the shots they have today. Guys like BJ, Jens, Uno all made us stand up and take notice of the little guys. I see no shame in losing to the best FW fighter in the world in Faber and the #1 contender in Garica. Jens should take time off.... recover... get in 2 or 3 months of full training and give it one more shot. You might never hold another title... but hell if you still cant be exciting to watch and a great mentor for younger fighters. It just sucks watching all my favs starting to go down hill... guess its gotta happen some time. Best of luck in ANYTHING you do Jens!! War Lil Evil !!!!
Tue, 01/27/09 - 01:25
If you can't beat any of the top fighters in your weight class, and you're as old as he is, that tells me it's time to go. Good luck Lil Evil!!!
Tue, 01/27/09 - 01:28
hope he stays on for more respectable guy
Tue, 01/27/09 - 01:29
Don't do anything rash, Jens. We still like watching you fight. Change your name from Lil' Evil to Lil' Malcontent or Lil' Mischiefmaker if you feel like you're missing a step these days, but don't quit, buddy. You have a lot left to offer. And I agree with Mayhem... you've helped put a less-loved weightclass or two on the map. Plus, your last name is PULVER. It's 2/3 of the word "pulverizer". You HAVE to stick around.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 01:32
You can't just look at the L's in a guy's record. You have to look at WHO he is losing to. There is no shame in losing to Faber and Garcia.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 01:38
If Pulver will keep fighting I will keep watching. I love his attitude and his style. No need to retire yet.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 01:39
Pulver vs Faber II was one of the most ridiculous, pointless, retarded, unnecessary rematches in MMA history. It's like they're conspiring against Pulver. He shouldn't quit. 3 losses is bad, but when 2 of them are two Faber, it's really not so awful. I don't think he'll be a champ again, but he can still put on great fights and entertain crowds, and that's really what it's all about. Fuck a belt.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 02:13
Pulver is one of those guys you can't help but to root for. It was really shitty to match him up with Faber again, especially after a viscious knockout from Garcia.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 02:35
Love watching lil' Evil fight - please don't retire.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 02:59
No point at all in Jens/Faber II. That was a gay rematch. Jens got tooled in the first one. Anyway, I think he should step down because of the wars he has been in. Don't want to be sad for Jens 10 years from now. He's been rocked many times, so the end of the line should be now.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 03:13
Asking someone if they are "still relevant" during their post fight interview especially given Pulver's emotional state was just a shitty thing to do. As someone else stated, 2 of his 3 losses were from the same guy.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 03:17
jens sucks meat snorkles and he cant fight either
Tue, 01/27/09 - 03:17
"Are you still relevant" - I still can't get over that. Was that a scripted question? Or did that asshat improve that insult right there on the spot?
Tue, 01/27/09 - 03:18
*improv
Tue, 01/27/09 - 03:20
how about 'lil worthless' .how many wins has he got since his comeback? 1 or 2 in a couple of years.still waiting to see something from the guy
Tue, 01/27/09 - 03:23
The downfall of Pulver all started with him being KO'd by that big eared kid Lauzon. To then have Pulver coach him on TUF was stupid and seriously awkward to say the least. THe UFC set that up just for the drama. But how could he be expected to coach someone who sent him into dreamland?
Tue, 01/27/09 - 03:29
I think he is still relevent. Let's put him in there with a top 10 guy that isn't top 5 and he will destroy them all. I think the hard-fast rule that three losses in a row and its over isn't applicable here.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 03:36
where can i find a video of this fight?
Tue, 01/27/09 - 04:31
Love the Evil & think he is relevant...he was certainly dealt a bad hand with the last 2 fights and he may even have a few good fights left in him...I think he does. However...The question is...who does the WEC give him to fight next? If they give him a top contender (Loser of Brown/Garcia etc...) he has a good chance of losing and he is toast. But if he fights someone lower on the totem pole....and loses (which could certainly happen) he is toast with little chance of relevancy. He can't really fight on a smaller stage as there is no money there. He should give it a rest for a while...hang em up. Then, as the sport continues to grow, he can re-enter and get paid. He's still a name...always will be...but right now he is in a no-win situation with his next fight and therefore needs to shelf it for a while.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 04:36
still relevant? He should have stuck his fist in that asshats mouth and then told him he didn't catch that, could he please repeat himself.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 04:58
Too much too soon. Jens should have had 2 more fights against mid level fighters to get his bearings before getting anywhere near a ring with Faber.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 05:42
To all you Anonymous asshole talking shit about Jens Pulver listen up. The man is a fucking legend and has done more than you pussies probably ever will which is why you assholes are trying to stir up drama by talking shit. Three losses is not the end of the world for Jens, and I wholeheartedly agree that it was a completely classless question asking Jens if he is still relavent. That guy should be fired for his lack of interviewing skills, he can join Tito.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 05:52
Yeah, when 2 of your 3 losses are against Faber it shouldn't push you towards retirement. I love his attitude and watching him fight.
Tue, 01/27/09 - 06:06
@ mayhem420 As usual, ditto. @ Anonymous "still relevant?" "He should have stuck his fist in that asshats mouth and then told him he didn't catch that, could he please repeat himself." Oh my. Nothing like a lil' bit of mindless violence to get the point across. I don't know who you are, but in my book, Comment of the Week. He's LUCKY Jens didn't SMASH HIS FACE. Just goes to show what a class act Pulver is. Look, like I said earlier, I have doubts if Jens will ever wear the belt. But by no means does that mean he should quit. Should Franklin leave the UFC 'cause Silva's got his number? HELL NO! Pulver has been an AWESOME ambassador for the sport for over a decade. We all know that he's still got something to offer us fans. Jens, if your reading, please know that you have NEVER let your fans down. Everyone slips up, but the truly tough get back up for more. We (your fans) know your the type of guy who gets back up off the mat; a true warrior. If your body still says "yes", then keep at it. You still have much to show, teach and learn. If not, you have been, and always will be, an inspiration to millions. Now, DON'T QUIT...so I can hug yer nuts a little more. WAR EVIL!
Tue, 01/27/09 - 06:18
Sorry...my thoughts were getting ahead of my typing. I meant to sday that the free WEC fight was was better than half of the UFC PPVs in '08. As confused as I am, I didn't spend money on a WEC PPV, ok?
Tue, 01/27/09 - 06:24
@ Wandering Wade "Too much too soon. Jens should have had 2 more fights against mid level fighters to get his bearings before getting anywhere near a ring with Faber." Look, IMO, the reason that Pulver fought Faber so soon again is because their first match up was one of the top three MMA fights in all of 2008. Honestly, you could argue that it was the best. That was a five round fucking WAR and I was RIVITED to mt seat for the whole match. That WEC free fight on PPV was better than half the UFC fights I paid for in '08 mainly because of Pulver and Faber's performance. The reason they rushed the rematch so fast was because that match was so fuckin' great that they wanted lightning to strike twice. As stoked as I was for the rematch, to be fair, BOTH fighters should have had more time to prepare before a rematch.
Wed, 01/28/09 - 02:57
@ Old, Bald and Irish: You just proved, that Comments of the Week doesn't always have to be funny. What you wrote about Jens deserves a T-Shirt, mate, period. And a beer if you ever come to Germany, cheers.
Wed, 01/28/09 - 04:56
My votes to keep him around. It's not like he's been losing to scrubs, he lost to one of the p4p greats of the sport and a top contender. Cut the dude some slack. Imo a few losses are acceptible when you give all you've got every fight. Chris Lytle, Clay Guida, Jens Pulver.. they all lose fights and may not be champion material at this point but that doesn't mean I'm not excited to see them throw down. I love having guys like them around. Jens, on the off chance you read these comments know that you still have fans and people still want to see you fight. Win or lose you always entertain.
Wed, 01/28/09 - 05:14
Jens is fun to watch and you know he's always going to give 110% in every fight he's in. He needs to stick around. Hopefully WEC gives him a fight with another dude on Cub Swanson's level. On a side note... Anyone know the name of the song Jamie Varner came out to? Thanks.
Wed, 01/28/09 - 06:55
@ Zee German I just might might take you up on that beer! Where do you live in Germany? I might be heading to Munich for Oktoberfest. I have two friends who live in downtown Munich... ,,,two blocks from the Oktoberfest tents! SWEET! Hit me up on the Members List in the Forums section.
Wed, 01/28/09 - 09:36
i dont like lil evil really, but jesus christ, theres no need to leave after 2 losses to faber. its all up to him t hough. whatever decision he makes im sure will be in his best interest. as for jobs other than being a fighter, training, conditioning coach. not many people get to go 5 rounds with the #1 fw in the u.s. thats alot of experience that young bucks would consider gold. with his attitude im sure it wont be wasted anyway... train hard, think easy..best of luck!
Wed, 01/28/09 - 10:34
New nickname Jens "little putz" Pulver. What what in the butt?
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