One of the pioneers of lower weight fighters will finally get his due on a bigger stage as UFC announced Saturday that Jens Pulver will be inducted into the Pioneer wing of their 2023 Hall of Fame class.
An emotional Pulver learned about the news while doing a livestream of Saturday's UFC 284:
The ceremony will take place in July as part of the 11th annual UFC International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
Now 48, he was the promotion's first-ever lightweight champion by defeating Caol Uno by unanimous decision at 2001's UFC 30, also becoming the youngest fighter to ever win the title.
He would go on to defend it twice, including in a majority decision win over BJ Penn at 2002's UFC 35 before departing the promotion due to a contract dispute.
After a four-year run in PRIDE and regional promotions, Pulver made his return to the UFC at 2006's UFC 63 as the company revived their 155-pound division. After losing to Joe Lauzon in under a minute, he later became a coach on the fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Penn.
After a subsequent loss to Penn in their rematch, Pulver headed to the WEC where he racked up a 1-5 record and lost in his challenge of then-WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber in WEC 34, earning fight of the night honors.
Subsequent years saw Pulver bounce around several regional organizations in addition to ONE. His last fight came in November 2013 with a loss and his career ended with a 27-19-1 record.
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