Jens Pulver

2023 - 2 - 12

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Official Website of the Ultimate Fighting Championship"

Jens Pulver Named To UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2023 (The Official Website of the Ultimate Fighting Championship)

Las Vegas – UFC today announced that former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver will be inducted into the 2023 Class of the UFC Hall of Fame as a Pioneer.

His next title defense would take place on January 11, 2002, against future UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn in the main event of UFC®35: THROWDOWN. Jens would compete 13 times across a number of MMA promotions over the next four years, most notably PRIDE and Shooto, before returning to UFC to face Joe Lauzon at UFC® 63: HUGHES vs. Pulver would vacate his title and leave UFC after this event. Pulver would lose his return bout against Lauzon and his next fight, a rematch against Penn as the main event of The Ultimate Fighter® Season 5 Finale. Jens would defeat Dennis Hallman via unanimous decision and become the first UFC lightweight champion to defend their title. This event would serve as the first UFC event sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Jens could do it all in the Octagon, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.” Jens returned to the Octagon for his fourth UFC bout against John Lewis at UFC® 28: HIGH STAKES, which took place on November 17, 2000. The 2023 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires, will take place during the 11th annual UFC International Fight Week this summer in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS. Jens made his UFC debut as part of UFC® 22: ONLY ONE CAN BE CHAMPION, which took place on September 24, 1999, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. After the event, the division was renamed to lightweight, making Jens UFC’s first lightweight champion. The Pioneers Era category includes athletes who turned professional before November 17, 2000 (when the unified rules of mixed martial arts were adopted), are a minimum age of 35, or who have been retired for one year or more.

Jens Pulver inducted into pioneer wing of UFC Hall of Fame (ESPN)

Jens Pulver, the first lightweight champion in UFC history, has been inducted into the pioneer wing of the promotion's Hall of Fame.

Nicknamed "Lil Evil," he went on to defend the title twice, against [Dennis Hallman](http://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2488860/dennis-hallman) and [BJ Penn](http://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2335629/bj-penn), in what was the peak of his career. He will become the 18th member of the UFC's pioneer wing, alongside two of his former teammates in Miletich and Hughes. [Caol Uno](http://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2354243/caol-uno) at UFC 30 in Atlantic City.

Former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver to join 2023 Hall of ... (CBSSports.com)

Pulver started his mixed martial arts career in 1999, fighting twice in tournaments early in the year and picking up a win over future lightweight title ...

"No one will ever forget his knockout of John Lewis or his win over BJ Penn in their first fight, and his fight against Urijah Faber in 2008 was the biggest fight in WEC history at the time. Pulver would continue to compete in and outside of the Octagon at an incredible rate. The UFC's inaugural lightweight champion is officially Hall of Fame bound.

Jens Pulver announced for 2023 UFC Hall of Fame class (MMA Fighting)

The moment Jens found out he was inducted into the UFC HOF; such an amazing video with so much real emotion. Well deserved for a true legend of the sport.

That season launched the careers of [Royce Gracie](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/656/royce-gracie), [Randy Couture](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/41/randy-couture), and [Ken Shamrock](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/729/ken-shamrock) in the UFC Hall of Fame Pioneer Wing. Well deserved for a true legend of the sport.— AFeldmanMMA (@afeldMMA) His feud with It wasn’t until Pulver defeated Uno at Penn](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/73/b-j-penn), [Caol Uno](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/361/caol-uno), and [Joe Stevenson](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/314/joe-stevenson).

Jens Pulver to be inducted into UFC Hall of Fame (MMA Junkie)

For years, UFC fans clamored for the induction of Jens Pulver. Saturday, the UFC announced it's happening during a surprise video package.

Other notable wins in the UFC included B.J. Penn in their first fight, and his fight against Urijah Faber in 2008 was the biggest fight in WEC history at the time. “Jens Pulver is a pioneer of the sport who was not only the first lightweight champion in UFC history, but someone who delivered some of the sport’s most memorable moments,” UFC president Dana White said in a news release.

Jens Pulver to be inducted into UFC Hall of Fame (Yahoo Sports)

After years of campaigning from his family, friends and fans, Pulver (27-19-1) will be inducted as part of the class of 2023, the promotion announced Saturday ...

Former UFC champion Jens Pulver to be inducted into Hall of Fame ... (Bloody Elbow)

Inaugural UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver joins the list of inductees into the 2023 Hall of Fame class.

Penn, whom he coached against in the fifth season of the Ultimate Fighter. He won the organization’s inaugural 155-pound title against Caol Uno at UFC 30 in 2001. Pulver, now 48, held several stints in the UFC, beginning in UFC 22 in 1999.

Jens Pulver to Be Enshrined in UFC Hall of Fame 'Pioneers' Wing (Sherdog.com)

The promotion announced on Saturday that the former lightweight champion will be inducted into the “Pioneers” Wing as part of a ceremony held during ...

[Cub Swanson](/fighter/Cub-Swanson-11002), [Caol Uno](/fighter/Caol-Uno-283), [Joe Stevenson](/fighter/Joe-Stevenson-65)and [Cole Escovedo](/fighter/Cole-Escovedo-2291), among others. Penn](/fighter/BJ-Penn-1307)in their first fight, and his fight against [Urijah Faber](/fighter/Urijah-Faber-8847)in 2008 was the biggest fight in WEC history at the time. “No one will ever forget his knockout of [John Lewis](/fighter/John-Lewis-331321)or his win over [B.J.

Video: Jens Pulver's emotional real-time reaction to news of UFC ... (MMA Junkie)

Watch former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver react in real time to the news of his UFC Hall of Fame induction.

Another notable win in the UFC came against B.J. He was completely caught off guard by the news while he hosted a live UFC watch-along on Twitch. The induction ceremony is expected to coincide with the promotion’s International Fight Week in July.

Video: Jens Pulver brought to tears by UFC Hall of Fame ... (MMA Fighting)

MMA legend Jens Pulver had an emotional reaction after it was announced at UFC 284 that he would be joining the UFC Hall of Fame.

“Shut the f*** up,” Pulver said. Pulver, 48, took a long pause to take in the honor, then brought in his son for an embrace. “Shut the f*** up, are you—shut up, are you serious?”

Jens Pulver

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