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The UFC’s inaugural light-weight champion is formally Hall of Fame certain. During the UFC 284 pay-per-view broadcast, it was introduced that Jens Pulver can be part of the UFC 2023 Hall of Fame class.
Pulver began his combined martial arts profession in 1999, combating twice in tournaments early within the yr and choosing up a win over future light-weight title challenger Joe Stevenson. By that September, Pulver made his UFC debut, battling Alfonso Alcarez to a draw at UFC 22.
Pulver would proceed to compete in and out of doors of the Octagon at an unbelievable price. In his seventh battle of 2000, Pulver scored an all-time spotlight reel knockout of John Lewis at UFC 28, a win that set him as much as battle Japanese star Caol Uno to crown the first-ever 155-pound champion for the promotion.
Pulver received the title by unanimous choice and would publish two profitable title defenses, the second of which got here in opposition to UFC legend BJ Penn, earlier than leaving the promotion as a consequence of a contractual dispute.
After combating world wide, Pulver finally made his approach again to the UFC in 2006 and would coach “The Ultimate Fighter” reverse Penn, resulting in a rematch wherein Penn scored a submission victory.
“Jens Pulver is a pioneer of the game who was not solely the primary light-weight champion in UFC historical past, however somebody who delivered a number of the sport’s most memorable moments,” UFC president Dana White acknowledged in a press launch. “No one will ever overlook his knockout of John Lewis or his win over BJ Penn of their first battle, and his battle in opposition to Urijah Faber in 2008 was the largest battle in WEC historical past on the time. Jens may do all of it within the Octagon, and it will likely be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer season.”
