Jens Pulver not retired yet, headling Target Center event
On Saturday, matchmaker Gavin Rydell announced the headliner for December’s mega card at Target Center. And Rydell will be bringing…
On Saturday, matchmaker Gavin Rydell announced the headliner for December’s mega card at Target Center. And Rydell will be bringing a former UFC champion to Minneapolis.
Jens “Little Evil” Pulver will fight in the main event of the CFX/Extreme Challenge co-promoted event in the venue that once housed the UFC. Pulver was the UFC’s first-ever lightweight champion.
Pulver is one of just two fighters ever to defeat B.J. Penn at lightweight. He first won the UFC belt in 2001 by defeating Caol Uno. He would defend his belt with decision wins over Dennis Hallman and Penn before the UFC eliminated its lightweight division.
After beating Penn, Pulver’s next fight outside of the UFC in 2002 was actually in Minnesota. He fought at Ultimate Wrestling Minnesota: Pulver vs. Emerson, and defeated Rob Emerson by decision.
Pulver joined Pride from 2004-06. Then he came back to the UFC when it reintroduced the lightweight division in the second part of 2006.
Since then, he has struggled. Pulver lost his first two return fights in the UFC to Joe Lauzon and Penn and then dropped to the 145 weight class in the WEC. He won his first fight in the WEC but then dropped five straight before leaving the organization.
Pulver comes to Minnesota having lost six straight and eight of his last nine fights. Rydell said he’s desperate to get his career back on track, and he’s hoping that will happen here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
