Jens Pulver: Now training camp has to last a lifetime
Jens Pulver: “Now, the training camp has to last a lifetime. Now, it’s about forever. Body, mind, spirit—you’ve got to build it all.”
A pioneer of MMA’s lightweight division, as well as the UFC’s inaugural lightweight champion, Jens Lil’ Evil Pulver is known for his wrestling and boxing prowess, as well as overcoming adversity – both inside and outside of the cage – during his life and career.
Raised in what he referred to as daily hell in Maple Valley, Washington, Pulver spent his childhood dealing with domestic violence and abuse. His only solace during this time was attending wrestling meets with his brothers. Removed from his toxic home life for weekends at a time, Pulver quickly became a wrestling standout, winning two state championships in high school and earning a scholarship to Boise State University.
In university Pulver’s focus transitioned from wrestling to MMA. Pioneering trainer Bob Shamrock suggested Pulver move to Miletich Fighting Systems in Bettendorf, Iowa, and his career quickly took off. Pulver’s third UFC fight was a win vs. Caol Uno for the then-vacant UFC lightweight championship; Pulver then defended his belt twice, vs. Dennis Hallman and BJ Penn.
After leaving the UFC due to a contract dispute, Pulver went 6-2 in MMA and 4-0 prizefighting, before entering Pride Fighting Championships. In Pride, Pulver fought memorable battles with Japan’s greatest lightweight fighters, including Takanori Gomi and Hayato Sakurai, before returning to the UFC in 2006.
Pulver’s career has been up-and-down after his return to North America, and he’s now retired. But he will be remembered as a pioneer of mixed martial arts, a legend in its lightweight division, and an inspiration to victims of domestic violence, as well as one of the sports’ most well-respected and affable personalities.
He recently looked back, an interview for Bodybuilding.com with author J. Reuben Appelman, who wrote and co-produced the Netflix-streamed documentary “Jens Pulver: Driven”.
“When I first started, it wasn’t about the money,” said Pulver. “The whole thing was about changing my name, getting out from under my past.”
But when he reached the pinnacle of the sport, depression and self-sabotage remained.
“I didn’t like it up there, everybody pointing and looking at me—that didn’t help my anxiety for s***,” Pulver said.
Pulver still keeps in shape, does 10ks and half marathons, but avoids fight condition.
“Running, especially, has always been therapeutic for me,” he said. “It’s always been my hour and a half rehab every day, my session with my pastor. When I’m out there, I’m free.”
“I can bounce around and I can shadow box, and I don’t mind hitting the heavy bag a little bit. But, I want to make sure I’m far enough away from the sport, from the pain of having to be done with it, so that I don’t tell myself I can still compete. … Because I can’t. That animal is gone.”
“When I had fights lined up, I’d train because I was in a training camp. But then I’d binge. Now, the training camp has to last a lifetime. Now, it’s about forever. Body, mind, spirit—you’ve got to build it all.”
“There are days when I do not want to wake up. There are days when I do not feel like I belong.”
Pulver still strives. He’s in the midst of a rebranding into the multi-billion-dollar gaming space as a Twitch personality and for-profit gamer. And he has a team of business coaches behind him.
“I used to think I couldn’t be in the business world, that I couldn’t relate to these people, that I’m just a dumb fighter,” said Pulver. “Then I realized, I’m just like them.”
Lil Evil was asked for his big picture – how this ends.
“There is no ending except the day I’m six feet under,” he replied. “But I’m happy now, and I wasn’t before.”
