UFC Corridor of Famer Jens Pulver stumps for Robbie Lawler, Dan Henderson

After years of campaigns, each underground and within the mainstream, Jens Pulver turned a UFC Corridor of Famer in 2023.

He was the promotion’s first light-weight champion in 2001. The truth is, he by no means misplaced the title. After pair of defenses over Dennis Hallman and B.J. Penn, he was stripped throughout a contract dispute.

Pulver retired in 2013 after practically 50 professional fights within the UFC, PRIDE, WEC, ONE FC and others. He has a transparent sense of satisfaction over his Corridor of Fame membership, but stated he is aware of his place there within the Pioneer Wing is smart, like he thinks it does for Frank Shamrock, who isn’t in but, both.

“So long as you could have that Pioneer Wing – see, did I deserve it? Possibly in my (entire) profession? No – simply profitable the title shouldn’t be sufficient to me,” Pulver instructed MMA Junkie Radio throughout the UFC’s Worldwide Battle Week in Las Vegas. “And defending it twice, shedding it on a contract (dispute) – I by no means obtained beat. No person beat me. However being the champ, I don’t know if that does it.

“However so long as you could have that Pioneer Wing, you can not not have Frank Shamrock. That’s sort of what was with me, and I feel with everyone getting behind me on all of it: In case you have this Pioneer Wing particularly, there’s no manner you’ll be able to’t have the man who created the 155-pound division. I received the belt and defended two instances, by no means misplaced it, and carried on as a pioneer for all of the little guys. That’s the place I’d say sure to Frank, one hundred pc.”

However he additionally needs to see different contemporaries in there who aren’t but. as people. Dan Henderson and former Pulver teammate Robbie Lawler are Corridor of Famers, however within the Battle Wing for particular bouts.

Henderson is in for his 2011 first struggle in opposition to Mauricio Rua at UFC 139. And Lawler’s a member for his UFC 189 welterweight title protection in opposition to Rory MacDonald in 2015.

“I all the time had this one piece, and I stored this with me for a very long time: After they speak concerning the sport, do they should point out your identify?” Pulver stated. “There’s no manner you couldn’t (say that about me). I began a weight class, so there’s a pioneer side of it, after which profitable that belt – there’s no manner you’ll be able to inform the story with out having it in there. When followers speak concerning the sport, who do they point out? Who do they speak about? You then begin going from there: Has that every one been worthy?

“There’s no manner Dan Henderson might by no means be. There’s no manner that Dan Henderson can’t be, shouldn’t be, in a corridor of fame. There’s nothing like Dan Henderson, nothing like what that man did.

“… I really like Robbie – he’s my little brother. One other one: one hundred pc must be in there. When you speak concerning the sport of MMA, there’s no manner you received’t speak about Robbie Lawler. Among the best fights you ever witnessed, the titles that he had, the fights that he had, how he began as a teenager, him and Nick (Diaz) in that first struggle, and simply how lengthy he’s been on this sport – there’s no manner you’ll be able to speak about UFC and MMA and preventing with out speaking about Robbie Lawler.”