Jens Pulver: 'I just need to pause right now and figure out what I'm going to do'

by Adam Wagner on Jun 19, 2009 10:56 AM EDT

Quoteworthy:

"Somebody’s gotta have that rough road, and I guess that’s me. Somebody’s gotta live that roller coaster, and I pretty much perfected it at this point from the day I was born. One of the biggest promises that I made is I’m not going to be that guy that retires and then comes back. I retire and have everybody give me their well-wishes, and we throw a little celebration and all that, but then I decide I’m going to come back. I’m not going to waste everybody’s time with that. So really right now for me it’s a pause. And I need to take that pause, because the reality is physically I feel great … But I got caught, I got beat … The self-esteem is shot, everything about my fighting is shot in that aspect. What do I do? So I just need that pause right now, you know, to really figure out what I’m going to do when I get in there, how am I going to fix things, can I fix things? And then when that day comes, of course, so when I do retire it’ll be a one-time deal."

Former UFC lightweight champion and current WEC featherweight Jens Pulver reflects on the very difficult decision facing him: Whether or not to retire from the sport of mixed martial arts. Now 22-12-1, "Lil Evil" has lost six of his last seven fights, albeit to extremely tough competition, including Urijah Faber (twice), BJ Penn, Leonard Garcia, Joe Lauzon and most recently to the up-and-coming 20-year-old Josh Grispi. Always candid, Pulver talked about the heartfelt moment he shared with the Sacramento crowd — where he started, and possibly ended, his career — at WEC 41 when he hinted at retirement.

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Maybe retire?

by ducknow on Jun 19, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions

Its a shame but he may just have to. Jens is great @ 145 but the upcoming young guys in the WEC are so explosive and well rounded that I don’t see many fights going his way from here on. Im not saying he will always lose but its not good for his career if he does.

by Ca$z on Jun 19, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

I also think it is much harder to fight in the smaller weight classes, after a certain age, than some of the bigger ones. You see a lot of 20 year olds in 135-155.

by naturalshadow on Jun 19, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

The difference in athletic ability between Jens and the top FWs is pretty overwhelming right now and I don’t think Jens will narrow the gap with age. He still has the physical abilities, but the young ’uns are just too fast and explosive for him to handle. Get one last fight against a can with a good name, end your career with a KO, preserve your legacy and move gracefully into coaching and commentating.

by PW on Jun 19, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions

It makes me sad but I’m going to have to agree. After the last fight there really wasn’t much denying it. It’s time for plan c. It seems like there is a changing of the guard happening all around.

by DSmith on Jun 19, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Jens is the smartest unfortunately-stupid-sounding guy around. I really like him.

by Punch You in the Ovaries on Jun 19, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Well put punch…agree!

by Alpha Male 360 on Jun 19, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I don’t know how you can’t like this guy. Stand-up guy. I liked him before but seeing him as coach on TUF made me like him even more. I wish him the best no matter what he does. Great guy!!!

by neeko on Jun 19, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Jens and Tito were 2 of the best coaches on TUF.

Jens is incredibly insightful and wise, IMO.

by OJR on Jun 19, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

listin everybody has there downfall, but jenslil evil pulver has not seen his end he is my fav fighter and he will come back and he will be more evil than ever,and to take a pause my boy pulver will come back and win the title and knock mike browns head off!!! jens if youreadthis man believe in your self get back in there and fight like you do, so what if you lost 4 fights thats just means you need to win 4 times and like i said get the belt, and jens if u get this email your boy man at arexseven@live.com hope to hear from you jens!!

by cody brett on Jun 22, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I would retire if I were you. He is definitely not Little Evil anymore, it almost seems as though the game is passing him by!!

by the spyder on Jun 19, 2009 11:06 AM EDT reply actions

play more Call of Duty 4! or World of Warcraft! until he’s ready to come back to fight or commentate

by nameless on Jun 19, 2009 11:06 AM EDT reply actions

WAR JENS!

by HKM on Jun 19, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

It’s an exciting time to see all of these amazing new guys coming in, but to see the legends ending their careers is really heartbreaking.

Jens is a great fighter, who has the misfortune of fighting in the most talented weight class in MMA. You can be an older heavyweight or lhw, but not lightweight or featherweight.

by Jon on Jun 19, 2009 11:29 AM EDT reply actions

Well put Jon. You are right, seeing the Chuck Lidells & Jens Pulvers retiring is like the end of a really great chapter. What would make it great is if Blow Job Penn get’s his a$$ beat by K-Flo (I somehow doubt it) & he retires.

by neeko on Jun 19, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Its funny how people hate BJ for being a whiner but forgive Rampage even though he broke the law!

Not criticizing you or calling you out neeko but that doesn’t strike me as very balanced!

by OJR on Jun 19, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Love Little Evil!!! He gets it. If retirement is the decision, he can rest easy knowing he gave every ounce of himself to the sport and representing it in the right way.

by Nigel Tufnel on Jun 19, 2009 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

Did anyone else notice Grispi pull a “Huggie Bear” after he choked out Jens?? Jens tapped an Grispi ever so gently hugged him and gave him several soothing/comforting pats on his back?? It was like he was rocking him to sleep or something.

Rumor has it he needed to pay Clay Guida $100 in royalties after the fight.

by ViolentMike on Jun 19, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions

i think I read that somewhere too Mike. LOL

by James S on Jun 19, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

LMAO…Keep em coming VM.

I’ll never get bored of HUGGY jokes!

(even after Diego puts him to sleep)

by Ca$z on Jun 19, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Pulver is definitely a class act. I think sitting back, thinking about his future and talking things over with his family, agent, fight camp and the WEC brass is his best bet.

by MMAMoneyLine on Jun 19, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

Jens is like most other fighters (such as Liddell or Tito) who spend way too much time in one camp and don’t evolve enough. Jens spent years at MFS—-which has been a good camp—-but which has never properly emphasized Muay Thai nor BJJ. Pulver started to deteriorate as a fighter as far back as 2005 and didn’t change up his routines in order to keep up with the newer fighters. Fighters who don’t change and evolve get left behind, so that’s why Pulver still “feels great” and is relatively healthy, but cannot win fights.

It’s hard to make up for years of technical stagnation, and frankly, I don’t see Jens making up the time. If he’s willing to fight cans, he can still do well; but if he wants to fight the elite fighters, he will continue to lose. That’s the reality.

by Fred on Jun 19, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions

I think that the sport has passed Jens. I think that even then same Jens that went the distance with BJ back in the day would have a similar record if he foughtt he same guys he is fighting today. I love the guy’s spirit but he was always kind of a gatekeeper. It’s time for him to go the way of Dan Severn. Beat the shit out of guys in the smaller shows while making that money and stop being embarassed on the grand scale.

by Jon on Jun 19, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

Jens is the man, achieved so much alrdy and i realy like him as coach. Maybe his own mma team? ( not retire) but to get food for thought. something new, something fresh. then come back :)

would hate to see Jens retire but he is a wise man imo, so im sure he will do what is right for him.

by MMA040 on Jun 19, 2009 12:00 PM EDT reply actions

I think Jens can still fight, he just needs to stay off the meth.

by mikehunt on Jun 19, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

a great guy indeed but that doesn’t change the fact that he is aging and has lost 6 of his last 7 fights .. he needs to invest his time and abundant energy in training young fighters … make $$ that way and rejoice in watching his trained fighters win matches .. it will be a sweet victory that way as well.

by commoner on Jun 19, 2009 1:36 PM EDT reply actions