#InductPulver
Brian Butler-Au, founder and managing partner of Sucker Punch Entertainment, has started a social network #InductPulver campaign.
The latest inductee to the UFC Hall of Fame is Urijah Faber. No disrespect to Faber what so ever, but Jens Pulver should be there first. It’s not that Faber is early, it’s that Pulver is late.
At UFC 30 on February 23, 2001, Pulver defeated Carol Uno to become the inaugural UFC lightweight champion. He defended it successfully vs. Dennis Hallman. For his second successful title defense, Pulver defeated B.J. Penn. Then he left the league in a contract dispute.
It took the UFC five years to crown another lightweight champion, Sean Sherk, who was eventually stripped of the belt after testing positive for anabolic steroids. Pulver still holds the record for youngest lightweight champion, at 26.
Back in 2014 UGer SensoriaUtopia rightly posted that Pulver deserved to be in the UFC Hall of Fame. Lil’ Evil himself replied.
“I will always be thankful for all of you, the Fans, fighters, media, old UFC, and of Course Dana white, Lorenzo Fertitta and Zuffa for making the UFC the monster it is today,” he wrote. “I hope that one day MMA will be as big.
“I have had some cool wins and some not so cool losses. Towards the end I just mentally was losing to anxiety and I used MMA the same way I used wrestling – to keep me focused and on a path to better myself as a person. I may have hurt the fighter I was, but damn I am forever thankful for all that the UFC and MMA did for me, allowing me to meet a world of people, see places I never thought I would see, to perform in front of you and most of all to be able to give my family some smiles and some stories along the way.
“I still remember when I left everything I knew in pursuit of being a champion, I remember being told we were going to have me fight in the UFC and I was going to start the 155 lbs class. When Zuffa came in and made it official by having me fight for the world title against Uno I knew I was a part of something special and I knew I was finally going to have a chance to fight for what I had dreamed about. I have always said I want to see the little guys get their shot at this sport. I will always be the Godfather of lightweights in MMA I will always have memories to share to my family. I will always remember the people who made it possible in my life from the mentors, to the coaches, the family, the teams, and all of you.
“Do I have my regrets? Oh hell yes I do, do I have some sorrys to say? yes I do. I am not on here to say I belong in the HOF. I am just thankful I belonged at all.”
Late last year Brian Butler-Au, founder and managing partner of Sucker Punch Entertainment, started the #InductPulver social network campaign. In addition to being the first ever UFC lightweight champion, Pulver coached TUF 5, fought in PRIDE, ONE, WEF, IFL, RFA, and Titan FC, is a terrific color commentator, and co-wrote the excellent autobiography Little Evil: One Ultimate Fighter’s Rise to the Top.
So #InductPulver
Lil’ Evil is not going to wildly advocate for himself. That should be up to us, the hardcore fanbase.