EMAILS TO JENS
June 15th, 2009 | Published in FEATURED STORY | 45 Comments
Jens,
Just watched your fight and it hurt to see you get submitted! I’m not an MMA guy myself but a serious fan of the sport.
I too know what its like to feel like you are “getting old”
In my industry I’m kinda like you, an icon, but I must admit it is hard to see other guys come up and take over. We all have our time in the sun and yours, or mine, does not have to end.
You are an ambassador for the sport of MMA and a true class act. When we see many kids coming up who are just “fighters” you are a serious legend that is to be respected and admired. Regardless if you fight again, or not, just remember that you have such a platform to encourage people (both young and old) please know that you inspire me.
You seem like such a fine person, so don’t lose hope my friend, there is much more in your future…in and out of the cage!
Thanks for being such a class act.
“Undisclosed Fan”
This is one of hundreds of emails received at our office shortly after Jens’s fight. So that our email doesn’t get overrun we ask if you would please leave comments on this post and Jens will read and reply here. Thank you for your continued support of Jens he appreciates that more than anything.
June 8th, 2009at 12:54 am(#)
Stay classy, Jens. You’re a legend and will not be forgotten.
June 8th, 2009at 1:49 am(#)
what up mr pulver! i root for you ever fight your in man, everytime i see your birth place i yell out to my bro’s look this the guy that was born right here in the yakima valley! stay up man, cause your career for sure will be in a short time.
June 8th, 2009at 1:50 am(#)
much respect man, i know times are hard but keep up the hard work it will prevail.
June 8th, 2009at 1:53 am(#)
You and Evan Tanner were the first fighters I followed in this sport and win, lose or draw that will never change. That should hold true for any real fan or supporter.
You’ve made your mark but if you think you still got it then go for it. Fight for Adrenaline MMA, PFC, WEC, whomever but don’t let some faceless critics who would love to be proven right make the decision for you.
Too much shit slinging in the cozy MMA corner of the internet. Fight for the love of it, everything else is just more baggage.
Cheers.
June 8th, 2009at 2:21 am(#)
Jens, I want to thank you for everything that you’ve done for the sport of mixed martial arts. You are one of the pioneers of the lighter weight classes in MMA and you deserve nothing but respect from both your peers within the sport and the fans who watch and cheer the fights. Thank you, God bless you, and I hope to see you in the UFC Hall of Fame someday soon.
June 8th, 2009at 2:22 am(#)
Thank you Jens!
June 8th, 2009at 2:26 am(#)
jens “lil evil” pulver…one of the best pioneers of mma…u r 2 good 2 retire now…u said it urself…ur not done…nd i dont think u r either…u know wat ur doin so just go back 2 the drawing board nd just fix those minor errors…nd evry1 will see a new reborn jens pulver…next WEC FW champion!!!WAR PULVER!!!
June 8th, 2009at 2:27 am(#)
Jens I remembered the first time I met you it was at NAGAS in Chicago and you were competing that day and I was in shock when I saw you cause you were the first MMA fighter I ever met. I bought one of your old sinister Lil Evil shirts and all of sudden we had a two minute conversation about training and your career and ever since then youve been my favorite fighter of all time. I always root for you no matter what…If you do retire from MMA I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart what youve done in the sport and in your life youve really touched peoples lives… Thanks alot Lil Evil
June 8th, 2009at 2:28 am(#)
WAR PULVER!!!
June 8th, 2009at 2:32 am(#)
Jens,
You are the man. You are a pioneer in the sport of MMA. You have helped this sport evolve to what it is today.
You are a baddass and always will be. The one man nobody can beat is Father Time. But I know that you wont let that get to you!
I can say this, I am so appreciative of the fighters like you who have worked so hard in this sport to bring it to where it is today.
Not many people can look back on their careers and say they have done what you have, and not many can say that they helped pave the way for MMA like you can.
Respect.
Anthony-
June 8th, 2009at 2:36 am(#)
Jens, you are the man!!!
June 8th, 2009at 3:32 am(#)
What up Jens,
I just want to say first off that it’s been a hell of a time watching you fight over the years. There aren’t many fighters out there that every time they fight, you know you’re going to see a show. Seriously dude, you’re one of those fighters. Any time you’re on a card, I always feel the same. Whether you were fighting Gomi, Penn, Swanson, Faber, Uno, Hallman, any of them, they were all a blast to watch. You put asses in the seats, and excitement in fight fans’ hearts. And for that, man, I thank you, on behalf of all of us that have bought our tickets for this ride.
Thank you, and I wish you luck in whatever decision you make regarding your fight future, and family future as well.
June 8th, 2009at 10:16 am(#)
Jens,
Thank you for your contributions to the world of MMA. Your fans will always support you, win or lose. Whatever you decide for your career, know that your place in history won’t be forgotten. We all appreciate what you have done and though you’ve suffered a few losses lately, you’re still a classy and respectful champion.
June 8th, 2009at 10:38 am(#)
I wanted to write directly to Jens, but that obviously is not happening. PLEASE forward this to him. I may not know him personally and how his mind works, but I am a fighter and came from an abusive family too, and have at least a ROUGH idea.
I just want to tell you this Jens:
I was never a fan of yours. I thought you were a cocky little punk who thought he was a badass because he had a rough childhood. That has changed. My heart is torn for you. It is obvious that you are an incredible talent and an even more incredible person – not obvious by what has happened in the ring recently, but by everything else. Do not allow a grand total of ~50 cumulative seconds in the ring discourage you, because who we are as people is far more important than who we are as fighters. You are a man, Jens. You are the kind of man I hope my son can be. Let me say that again, more clearly.
I hope that my son shares the power of your soul.
I just wanted to voice some thoughtful support for you. I’m sure you have thousands of dumb emails from people saying “Jenz your mad awesome dawg!” but I want you to know that the perceptive people out there see you. We see that despite some bad numbers over the last few years, you are still a world class fighter and a world class person.
Keep truckin Jens. Even if you have to fight tamer opponents. Even if you stop fighting. You are an amazing person and the little I have seen of your life inspires me to make myself and my children better. Take that.
June 8th, 2009at 12:13 pm(#)
You are one of my hero’s and will remain that….no matter the outcome.
Stay focused and remember your fans are here to support you. True fans root for the warriors heart…not his record.
June 8th, 2009at 1:09 pm(#)
First off, Jens, I’m not going to start out by calling you a Legend. You’re not a legend. You sir, are an icon. I have never tried to get in touch with a fighter this hard in my life, until now.
Definition of legend:
–noun
1. a nonhistorical or unverifiable story handed down by tradition from earlier times and popularly accepted as historical.
My point is, you’re still going. You will continue to fight, because that’s who you are. I don’t have to know you personally to know what you’re going through, or to see the fire in your eyes when you lose. It hurt me to see the pain you were in last night during your post fight interview.
That’s what I like about you Jens. You hold no emotion back. You say what needs to be said. At the same time, you are the most respectful person I have ever seen on my TV screen, ever.
Whether you choose to pick another door in your fight career, or open a new one in your life, I’ll be cheering for you.You will always be relevant Lil’ Evil. I wish the best to you and your family.
Much respect,
- Cory
June 8th, 2009at 1:25 pm(#)
We still love you Jens. Please dont forget that.
June 8th, 2009at 10:29 pm(#)
Much respect, Jens. Never forget you are a warrior and a champion.
Paul
June 9th, 2009at 11:27 pm(#)
thank you all for taking the time. I can’t even begin to tell you all how much it has meant to me to have had the chance to go out there and fight for all of you. Its been a crazy ride and taking the time to read what you all have been writing has been unreal. I don’t know how to thank you guys for all of your support and for always being by my side. I said it earlier and I realized how true it is. I am not saying I am done, but I am saying its time for a pause. time for me to find out if I can get that mental edge again or if its just that time for me to push on and help others achieve their goals. the decision to become a fighter back in the day is something I will never regret and it has been my pleasure up to this point to have walked the path of MMA with all of you. I wish you all the best.
lil evil
June 10th, 2009at 7:23 am(#)
Jens, dont stay away too long, and please let us know what you are up to during this “pause”
June 10th, 2009at 8:54 am(#)
Whatever you decide to do best of luck, always enjoyed watching you as a fighter and listening to you in the booth.
June 10th, 2009at 9:06 am(#)
Jens, I grew up in Muscatine, just down the road from Bettendorf. It’s a rough town with not much to do. I always looked up to the MFS guys as something to hold on to and be proud of. You guys showed me what hard work grit and determination can bring in life. I’ve worked hard at my passion and have become one of the best at what I do. I continue to watch fighters and how they train to take what I can and make myself better. But you guys at MFS back in the day got me started in believing in myself, GOD and a life worth living.
Thanks man.
June 10th, 2009at 9:19 am(#)
Evil,
Big fan Jens. No one gets more pissed off then I do when you loose. It’s only a fight Jens, small errors at the top level is all it takes. I think you need to be more agressive and come with anger.(the way you KO’d Lewis)that’s my two cents. Will always be a fan Jens, good luck whatever decision you make, whatever happens the most important thing is your family.
Biggest fan,
Vinny
June 14th, 2009at 10:39 pm(#)
Jens,
I know we haven’t been close over the past few years and that we never really had a chance to work together on things but i can honestly say that you always were and are still one of my idols in the game. You have been and done things that have inspired so many fighters over the years. TIME catches up to us all. I am here, in a similar boat with 3 losses in a row and I wonder if I will ever get to be world champ. I have faith in myself, I believe I will conquer whatever it is that has stepped in my way. YOU have already been crowned my brother. Nobody in the world can take away from you what you have accomplished as a champion. You did it when fame was limitted, money was much less and fan support was only the hardcores. Your fight, this last one, was so sad to witness because it was one of those things that happen daily in training and we brush off and keep going. Just happened to be on this large scale and a very important fight. Do not let this beat you down at all. If you ever want to help me train for a fight or need a body to work with, I am here for you and would always welcome your advice and leadership. Thanks for being a True Warrior and an example for the new generation that is now the sport!!! We love ya brotha
Your Friend,
Jeff
June 15th, 2009at 12:40 am(#)
WAR PULVER!!!!!!
June 15th, 2009at 4:56 pm(#)
Thank you guys so much for the responses. Jeff my brotha its been a long road and I have always enjoyed and got fired up when you were fighting, I have always admired your determination out there in the ring and in the cage. I really want to thank you for the offer and I will absolutely get back to you on that. Right now I am just sitting and spinning. I have come to terms with one thing though, I am not done. I am not walking away from this sport just yet. Instead I am going on a search, I am looking for that mind set that has eluded me for some time now. I am working on being a martial artist, beating peoples skills and leaving all that anger and hate out of the cage. fighting the fighter in front of me, and not the skeletons behind me. The Chip on my shoulder has been removed and the stories and joy I have from this sport is all that remains. I love the fans like no other and I am taking this pause to go find what it takes to fight people with nothing more than competition in my heart. I hope that makes sense. I wish you all the best in the world.
Evil
June 15th, 2009at 6:44 pm(#)
[...] PULVER RESPONDS TO CURRANS POST… pretty cool. This is pretty neat to see these two leaving this type of personal message for each other. CLICK HERE AND SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE LAST FEW COMMENTS IN BOLD FROM JEFF AND JENS TO EACH OTHER [...]
June 15th, 2009at 6:56 pm(#)
Jens, You were the first fighter I ever felt connected to. We both shared a hard childhood, and there is something about you that inspires me. I loved your book. You were my first hero, and you are my favorite fighter. You’re a legend, an inspiration and a role model. I hope you find what you’re searching for.
We all love you Jens.
Austin.
June 15th, 2009at 7:23 pm(#)
Jens,
Go visit Japan and spend a couple months outside a Koryu (Classical School of Martial Arts) and wait til they invite you inside.
Or go train with Lyoto Machida. Rediscover the virtues of Bushido.
June 15th, 2009at 7:29 pm(#)
Jens,
I am one of the “old timers” who has been watching since day 1. I remember saying “Damn, who IS this guy?” when I first watched you fight. In the many years since then, you have showed a legendary amount of skill, heart, and tenacity. I’m just a massage therapist, but your dedication has made me want to keep getting better at what I do – knowing that if you can struggle THAT hard and become a champion – I should AT LEAST be able to acquire more skill to help my people.
You are a pioneer, very early on you brought incredible boxing talents to MMA and showed your opponents that they’d BETTER have top level striking if they were going to stand with you. A lot of fighters set new goals for themselves watching you fight.
To say you’re an inspiration is such an understatement. Never get too down about time piling up on you – you are a champion – then, now, and forever.
I hope you read this, man – you’ve only started to inspire this world. Whatever you do – continuing to fight, coaching, commentary – you’ll bring that heart of yours and people will love you for it. Everyone I know already does.
Respect!
June 15th, 2009at 7:35 pm(#)
Lil Evil,
I have always loved watching you fight, and it really hurt me to see how these last couple losses have affected you. Please don’t give up Jens, me and a lot of other fans aren’t ready to see you leave MMA just yet. No matter what you do, you will always have your fans support.
June 15th, 2009at 7:36 pm(#)
Jens you are the definition of a true warrior. The way you hung in there and defeated bj penn back at ufc 35 was something not many people could handle. You don’t know the definition of quit it seems not like it’s a bad thing however. I really look forward to watching your future wars, you can’t always be on the winning side but I sure hope you find that mindset you’re looking for and get back on that side. Good luck Jens, and may you kick ass in the future.
June 15th, 2009at 7:49 pm(#)
Jens! You are the man! If you are at an event I am watching it… I dont care if you’re fighting, commentating, or even spectating. You are a true pioneer of the sport, a Real Warrior, and you have such a charasmatic personality that it would be Impossible to hate you. You are in shape, Quick, and still got that mental edge to fight, I can see it in all your fights! I myself live in Iowa, and aspire to one day fight all I do is train by myself and I would love to get a chance to train with you sometime if you still train around bettendorf! I would love to be mentored by you, i couldnt think of a better person to help me! after your losses i felt your pain just as much as you did. You have not lost it at all Trust me when i tell u this! If you do decide to help train other fighters I hope i will be one of them, I am willing to relocate in a second. Thanks for all the years of entertainment you have brought us, and all the years to come! WE LOVE U JENS!
June 15th, 2009at 7:56 pm(#)
Jens, win or lose its always a pleasure to watch you fight. Good luck with whatever you decide to do next. I will always be a fan. WAR PULVER!!!
June 15th, 2009at 7:57 pm(#)
Dear Jens, I’ve always been a big fan of yours. As most here have already but it, you’re a pioneer man. And i think i speak for all of us when i say I’m nothing short of ecstatic that you’ve decided to continue competing.
You’ve always represented the sport with honor, dignity, and a warrior’s spirit. Ive heard of your talents firsthand through my former teammate David Harris, whom you had a hard fought battle with at the 2nd Bas Rutten Invitational Tournament in 1999. He had nothing but good things to say about you, including that he has never before, nor since, been hit harder by another man. Which is quite a thing to say coming from someone with over 50 pro MMA fights. lol
Anyway Jens, i truly wish you the best of luck in you next phase of life. My blessings to you and your family, please take care and continue training hard! I will be following along my friend!
-Mike W.
June 15th, 2009at 8:00 pm(#)
The post fight presser after the Grispi fight was one of the classiest speeches I have ever heard, almost like a passing of the torch… Grispi seems like a nice kid and he just caught Jens.
June 15th, 2009at 8:12 pm(#)
Jens,
I just wanted to say my 2 cents about how much of an inspiration & influence you have been, not only to MMA but as human being, to thousands of fans. You were a true pioneer & carried yourself in a way that legitimizes the sport of MMA. Your character inside & outside the cage has made you one of a kind & a true legend. Seeing your reaction to the your loss really touched me. It please me greatly to hear that you are not done yet…can’t wait to see the next chapter of your career. Take care!
June 15th, 2009at 8:15 pm(#)
Hey Jens,
I have been following your inspiring career from the very beginning. Seeing your last fight, if anything was to be learned from it was this: The competitive edge of one man vs another is at times arbitrary, but the heart for competition and the subsequent glory for inspiring a whole generation of fighters and fandom is something that will lay in the palm of your fist forever.
You my friend are a hero.
June 15th, 2009at 8:17 pm(#)
you helped make the best sport ever popular., you built a legend in yourself and mma.. WAR PULVER.. you’ll always be the man.. i cried with you brotha
June 15th, 2009at 8:19 pm(#)
Jens,
It’s been pretty awsome to watch you fight through the years. i do not see you as a legend yet. icons is other sports do not attain that level till they retire, and people like me sit around and tell their kids, “i saw him live and knock someone the hell out.” people seem to forget about the circumstances some of these fights where taken, including short notice,
no training camp, and the birth of a child. most iconic fighters would find those circumstances unacceptable because of the risk. i give you mad props for always stepping up. i cant wait to see you fight again! save the legend stuff for 10 years down the line.
respect always
joe
June 15th, 2009at 8:57 pm(#)
Jens,
All i have to say is that you are the reason why i got into mixed martial arts and i will always support you no matter what my friend.
Always a fan
Miguel
June 15th, 2009at 10:15 pm(#)
Jens, I’m still a teenager, 14, trying to make myself in the sport but you were one of the first fighters I remember seeing many years ago, and I’m sure that I’m not the only one to say that you were a huge inspiration to me. I mean, I’m not exactly the biggest guy in the world, and I haven’t stopped growing, so maybe I’ll fill out to a heavier weight class. For me though, at the time, it was just an amazing experience watching you fight. I mean from another not so large person, it’s great looking at the screen and saying “Look at that little guy kick ass!”.
Win, lose, or draw, Lil’ Evil always has a fan right here. A class act, and a true warrior. Whatever this “pause” does for you, and whatever direction it sends you in, I have no doubt that you’ll find success wherever you may go.
I speak for many people when I say,
WAR PULVER!
-Darryn
June 16th, 2009at 1:09 am(#)
I am working on being a martial artist, beating peoples skills and leaving all that anger and hate out of the cage. fighting the fighter in front of me, and not the skeletons behind me. The Chip on my shoulder has been removed and the stories and joy I have from this sport is all that remains. I love the fans like no other and I am taking this pause to go find what it takes to fight people with nothing more than competition in my heart. I hope that makes sense…….
That is so good to hear. This is proof positive of your mind set changing for the better. You have so many positive things to fight for NOW. You have fought through the ugliness of the past and are now a stronger MAN, HUSBAND, and FATHER because of it.
You continue to inspire me, thank you.
Your friend,
Shinmen
June 16th, 2009at 2:08 am(#)
Hey Lilevil, you’ve got nothing to apologize for or be embarrassed by. You’re a hell of a fighter and you’ve always seemed really friendly and upbeat. Stay that way!
Hey, do you still play your Night Elf Rogue?
June 24th, 2009at 1:08 am(#)
Jens,
You are and always will be one of my heros. I love your fights they are always exciting, win lose or draw, in the end you will be remembered as one of the legends that brought this sport to the platform it is on today. Whatever you do in your career in or out of the cage I just want you to know you have much love and support from South Florida. We love you down here and keep doing what you do and being who you are.
Peace and Love
Korey