Interview: Jens “Little Evil” Pulver
Preparing for his title fight with Uriah Faber on June 1st, the WEC’s Jens Pulver sits down with 411’s John Curry to discuss fighting, why people hate on him, Call of Duty 4 and more.
Many people who are fans of the UFC know the name Jens "Little Evil" Pulver. Cocky, arrogant, and a punk are many of the words people use to describe him. Words used by people who have never met Jens or spent even one minute getting to know him. Those are the only people that can say this. After hearing stories from other fighters and people who know Jens personally I discovered that Jens is someone who lives for fighting but lives even more for his fans and children who need help. A man who once gave his own Xbox 360 and all of his games and controllers to a children's home immediately after he discovered they didn't have any video games. A man who stopped signing autographs so that he could spend time with a kid who was too shy to come up to him. Once you get past the fact that this is the original UFC lightweight champion, you will discover a man who is humble past the point of humble. Someone who comes from a hard background but doesn't let that define who he is. Jens is someone who has the value, the recognition, the personality, and most importantly the heart to be the face of the 145 pound division and the WEC and UFC for years to come. I spent almost an hour and a half talking with Jens. I hope that by the time you reach the end of this interview you will have realized how little you know about Jens Pulver, the godfather of the 145 pound division.
Highlight Reel of Jens "Little" Evil Pulver
411ManiaMr. Pulver, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to join 411mania. Please tell our readers about your pre-mixed martial arts life? I understand you actually have a BS from Boise State University in Criminal Justice? What were your plans with that degree?
Jens Pulver "No problem. Thanks for talking to me. *laughs* Before my MMA career I wrestled. I wrested since I was kid. It was the coaches in High School who saved me from what I was going through. It was because of wrestling I made sure I had good grades. Well not good grades but C's so I could stay academically eligible *laughs*. I was a Junior College All-American at Highline Community College in Seattle, Washington. I also wrestled at Boise State University. I had planned to get into working with trouble kids and kids with juvenile problems. I still think that is the most important thing to do. I always want to help troubled and disadvantaged kids who need help realizing their dreams. "
411Mania Can you tell us what your daily routine for training is? What do you spend most of your time working on?
JP "It's tough. In the morning I do some lifting, I pull tires and sled, climb ropes and more. Then I jump in the pool and do some swimming. That's followed by riding the bikes and running. In the afternoons I am at the boxing gym from around 2:30-3 until 5. I go eat then come back at 6:30 to work on whatever I need to do. I don't really focus on any one thing I just try to make myself as well rounded of a fighter as I can."
411ManiaYou wrote a book about the struggles you had growing up in an abusive house, battling depression and more. How has that writing your autobiography helped you in dealing with your childhood? What message do you hope the readers will walk away with?
JP "It wasn't so much as a painful thing for me to deal with as I just wanted to show that you can overcome your problems. You know the more and more people who write to me and say that their lives are improved because of the book I fell happy. I mean it just blows me away because I am surprised people even want to listen to me. It's something that they say they can relate to. The message I wanted to get across was that don't ever quit on yourself. Just keep plugging away."The more and more people write saying they improved. Something they can relate to. Don't quit keep plugging away. "
411Mania A lot of fans of the MMA know you as a legend in the sport, but after your loss to BJ a lot of us, myself included wondered why you dropped to the WEC. Can you enlighten us on your reasoning behind that?
JP "For me it was an opportunity to fight at my natural weight. The UFC doesn't have an established 145 weight class and the WEC does. I wasn't demoted or fired from the UFC. I went to them and asked them if it was okay to fight for the WEC in the 145lb division. I fought in Japan at 143 lbs. and it is closer to the weight I wrestled in college."
411ManiaBut what about those who say the WEC is the UFC's minor leagues?
JP "There ain't nothing minor league about the WEC. Look who we have fighting in the 145lbs division of the WEC. There's me, Uriah, Micah Miller, Jeff Curran, we have a former Shooto champion. Trust me man there ain't nothing minor league about the WEC. Everyone seems to think the sport has blown up. Trust me when I say it's just beginning. The 145lb division is just starting to take off."
411Mania One of the big issues I have noticed with many of the people I talk to about MMA, and by people I mean fans, there seems to be this mentality about you that you are a punk with weird ass hair. However, I have spoken with people who train with you and know you personally and find that the exact opposite is true. Why do you think there is such a difference in how people see you?
JP "Because that is the way it's supposed to be. I wear the Mohawk, and the colored hair and the words on my head and my tattoos and people judge me by that. Let them judge a book by the cover and miss out on the story. I am a kick ass guy to hang around and there isn't anyone you would meet who has physically met me and talked to me who would say that I am cocky or a prick. There is a difference between being cocky and being confident. I mean when people ask me how I think a fight is going to go, I tell them if everything is going my way and I'm having my day I'll win and people take that as cocky. What do they want me to say? Maybe I'll go in and we walk around, I'll let him hit me a few times, and then walk to my corner and get a drink of water and tell my coach I am having vision problems? I don't think so."
411Mania What about all of the bashing you get from the internet?
JP" You know I stopped reading that stuff a long time ago. All of these "keyboard warriors" say what they want to about me and I just laugh in their face because they have never met me and have never actually gotten in the ring and fought. I think that's what pisses me off about it, they say stuff that they wouldn't say to my face. I can't please everyone and I am not going to try. Not everyone is going to like me and I'm okay with that. "
411Mania One of the things I always ask in an interview regards submissions. I know that you have won most of your fights by TKO or knockout but I have to ask, what is the most painful submission you have ever been put in either in practice or during a fight. What is your favorite one to use?
JP " The most painful one I was put in was probably the rear naked choke when I fought BJ. I knew that once he locked that in it was over. I couldn't get out of it. That's what really hurt. Did he hold it in too long while the ref tried to break it up? Yeah. Am I mad at him? No. I am mad at myself for getting myself in that position. It's just like getting knocked out you can't be mad at the guy. If you don't want to get knocked out don't let him knock you out. Plain and simple. In regards to my favorite submission to use, probably the Anaconda choke that I used during my fight with Cub Swanson. I don't really care for the submission fights. If you watch my fights you see I have how many submissions? 2. And how many knockouts A LOT *laughs*. I prefer to keep the fight standing that is how I fight."
411Mania You were the coach on TUF season 5 along with BJ. The thing I really noticed is that you actually have a passion for coaching as well as fighting. Do you plan on coaching after you finish fighting or is there something else you want to do?
JP "Absolutely. I plan on coaching. I want to help young fighters reach the same level I have. I want them to be able to have somewhere to go and learn so that they can train and stay out of trouble."
411Mania I recently wrote an article explaining why children should be allowed to train for MMA. What are your feelings on that?
JP" I believe children should train in MMA if done properly. I want to tell you, I grew up fighting. I never started a fight in my life but I still grew up fighting. Since I have been in MMA, I have not had one fight outside of a sanctioned match. The world of MMA teaches children discipline and self control in addition to the fighting. I don't think it is any worse than Peewee football."
411Mania I have to ask you a real personal question. If you don't feel comfortable answering just let me know. Who cuts your hair?
JP "Rick at Rickthebarber.com. You can go to my Myspace page and check him out. I went to him one time in Vegas after he e-mailed me saying what he can do. He does some awesome work. He doesn't even use a stencil or anything. I went to him before my last two fights. I will be going to him before my fight with Uriah. . I've been going to him the last two times. "
411ManiaTell us do you have any pre-fight or post fight rituals?
JP "The Haircut…I get it the week of the fight. I put on the gear and become "Little Evil" and prepare myself for the fight. I don't have any post fight rituals other than just trying to come down."
411Mania How do you celebrate after winning a fight?
JP" I just go back to the hotel room. I just try to hang as close to family as I can. Family is very important to me. I don't go out often but when I do I prefer to go out with family."
411Mania You are fighting Uriah Faber at the WEC 34 on June 1st for the Featherweight title in Uriah's hometown. I know there is a lot of respect between you and Uriah. How are you preparing for Uriah?
JP "I have something I have in mind, TOP SECRET *laughs*. No, seriously I am just trying to work on my game as much as possible and prepare the best I can for this fight. I'm risking it all to fight this kid. I can't wait. It's going to be a tough fight."
411Mania What is the one aspect of your game that you are trying to improve the most on and why?
JP" It's not so much improve but I want to be more comfortable when it comes to survival mode, especially in wrestling and grappling. When you get taken down you immediately revert to doing what you know rather than what you are comfortable doing. I am just trying to become more comfortable in all aspects of my game. "
411Mania I have learned that you are an avid video gamer. So much so that you actually play COD4 on the PC and the XBL system with everyday fans, what is that like? What is your favorite game to play and what systems to you own?
JP "I love it. I spend a lot of time playing games, especially Call of Duty 4. I can't tell you how many people I have to try to convince that they are really playing with me.*laughs* I'll tell you what else is funny is even when I play in those rooms I still get little dicks who come in and make smart ass comments about me and my fights. I have a PS3 and a 360 and my computers. I am sponsored now by Activision so I am happy. I get to be sponsored by someone who I enjoy playing their games. I used to play World of Warcraft a lot but I don't any more. I still keep my account active so I can play when the next one comes out. My favorite game to play is definitely the Call of Duty series. I play COD4 all the time. "
411Mania I understand you have a daughter. How do you balance fighting and family? What does your daughter think of you fighting?
JP "You know fighting is like a jersey. I put it on when I leave the house and take it off when I leave the gym. I want people to know I am not a violent person at all, I actually despise violence. I am a competitor. I love to compete and this is how I do it. If people got to know me they would realize I am actually a cool sumbitch. When it comes to my daughter she thinks that fighting is for fun. She understands what I do and that I have fun doing it. When I go train, she'll come with me sometimes and just hang out with the wrestlers while I box and she will say "Look Daddy's having fun" *laughs*. We wrestle around the house all the time. I love my daughter."
411Mania As an avid UFC fighter and fan, tell us what is the one fight you are looking forward to seeing this year?
JP "Man that is tough. There are all kinds of fights I love to see. I always love watching Randy Couture's fights. I am looking forward to the BJ Penn-Sherk fight, the Huerta-Florian fight. It's hard to say as I just like watching good fights. "
411Mania I read online that you recently visited Camp Lejune. How was that experience for you?
JP" Man that was one of the most amazing things I have ever done. I still think about that every day. I went down there to talk to the troops. A lot of them were in the 2nd Battalion A3 and were the first guys into Iraq. They were just amazing man. I was humbled beyond humble. I still wear the belt that they gave me to the fights. I went down there and just hit it off with the guys down there. They were saying things to me like "I can't believe I am talking to Jens Pulver" and I was like I can't believe I get to talk to you guys. I ran the 5k with them and everything. It was just crazy man. They would say things like "I have to go to Iraq in 2 days" and I was like what do I say to them. I just told them thank you. It was just one of the greatest experiences in my life."
411Mania Did you realize you had that big of impact?
JP "No. I don't think I have any impact on anyone. I don't take my fans for granted ever. Why do you think if five people stop me for an autograph or a picture I don't turn anyone down. I am damn thankful that they took five minutes out of their day just to talk to me. "
411Mania Before I let you get back to sparring and training, what is the one thing you want our readers to know about Jens "Little Evil" Pulver?
JP "I think we already covered that" *laughs*
Quick Hits
411Mania Worst job you ever had?
JP"I had to be Chuckie at Chuck-e-Cheese"
411Mania World of Warcraft or Call of Duty 4?
JP "COD4"
411Mania What is something no one would guess about you?
JP "I'm deathly afraid of flying"
411Mania Do you have a guilty pleasure?
JP "No."
411Mania Who do you look up to and why?
JP "If I had to pick one person it would probably be Randy Couture for proving that I have at least 11 years left in this sport" *laughs*
411Mania Favorite Singer?
JP "Craig Morgan"
411Mania Favorite day off activity?
JP " Sitting in my chair playing COD4."
411Mania Favorite movie?
JP "I think if I had to pick one I would say 300. Kick ass film"
411Mania Toughest sparring partner?
JP " Definitely Spencer (Fisher)."
411Mania Mr. Pulver, I want to thank you for taking time to introduce yourself to our readers and we wish you the best of luck in the future. Before we go is there anyone you want to give a shout out to?
JP "Yeah. I want to give a shout out to everyone who reads this article, Critical Fight Gear, Activision, Night Rifles, Medalist Gear, ETMS."
