Jens Pulver: The Greatest Little Man

So I've been throwing around the idea of writing a Jens Pulver piece since last night.  He's one of my favorite fights and I felt the need to honor him in some way.  At first I was just going to break down his fights and who he was as a fighter.  It was a pretty dry piece and I didn't really feel right about it.  It wasn't that it was bad, but I felt that a historical piece would be better served for the real writers.  People like Kid Nate, John Snowden, and Brent Brookhouse have a better perspective on the historical importance of his battles.  I have seen most of his fights thanks to various outlets, but I don't have a grasp of the time period to make it effective.

Instead, I've decided to just write about how he impacted me.  I feel this is the best way to honor him as both a man and a fighter.  Jens was never the most talented or physically gifted fighter.  He never had the family lineage like a Gracie nor the natural gifts of BJ Penn.  He was a blood and guts fighter.  He won by sheer force of will.  His heart carried him when his skills could not.  He's fought a who's who of LW greats and his career stretches from the "Dark Ages" to today.  

He's been my favorite fighter since I first saw him fight.  It was the Penn/Pulver PPV.  His style was very entertaining and his comeback win was an instant classic.  When he left the UFC, he fell off the planet for me.  I wasn't as educated on MMA so I wasn't bothering with following Pride.  Since this time, I have seen his battles in Pride and his fight with Gomi is a classic.  He didn't have the undefeated record of Fedor or the series of amazing come from behind victories as Big Nog.  He is a product of his time.  An American wrestler who learned how to box and utilize his sprawl to stay away from the ground.  He trained with the Top American camp with MFS and he unfortunately never grew as a fighter.   

When it was announced he was coming back to the UFC, I have to admit I was excited.  I thought he'd show up and teach the younger fighters about heart, grit, and determination.  He was supposed to continue his legacy as the top American Lightweight.  Then his loss to Joe Lauzon happened and I was crushed.  Gone was the chin that made him great.  Gone was that speed.  His stint on TUF 5 showed us who he was and that he truly cared for people.  His level of respect that he both garnered and gave was incredible.  The end of season fight to BJ Penn felt like the end to an era.  The Lightweight division was now full of larger fighters who cut weight and someone of Jens' size was unable to compete at the high level.  His run in the WEC was full of promise and his first fight with Uriah Faber to me is a classic featherweight bout.  His subsequent losses how brutal the fight game is.  Not because he suffered an awful KO loss like Chuck Liddel.  No, it was because in order to push the younger fighters you have to sacrifice the older ones.  He still has his legacy that hungrier, younger, more talented fighters can attach to their records with a win.

I've never had to deal with the issues that Jens has.  I grew up in a great household and never needed to worry about escaping or validating my name.  I never really needed to try hard at anything because it always came naturally. What held me back for so long was the desire to better myself.  Jens without ever knowing it, has shown me what heart is and what being a man is.  The emotion he carries with him and those demons that he faced when he was younger made him the man he is, and whenever he is interviewed, he will mention that it built him as a man. Some people will let that define who they are.  They will follow the footsteps of their parents and mimic what they see at home because they don't know any different.  Jens used it to drive him to greatness.  In a sport full of insincere tough guys, he was a breath of fresh air.  He handled his highest highs with grace and his lowest lows with emotion that is very rarely seen in life, let alone a testosterone driven sport such as MMA.  Whatever he ends up doing for the rest of his life, I hope he finds happiness.  I hope it is some involvement in MMA because I would like to see him honored as the legend he is.  If it isn't, hopefully the blue turf and mountains of Idaho can provide him the happiness that he so deserves.

Here's to Jens Pulver, the biggest little man you've ever seen.  Thank you for the memories and the life lessons.