Pioneering lightweight Jens Pulver has been released from his WEC contract. UFC president Dana White confirmed on Saturday night that Pulver had been informed of his release and would not be used in a broadcasting role as previously speculated.
Pulver talked to the Times of Northwest Indiana about the release and what his next move in mixed martial arts will be:
“On the record, you can tell the whole world this: I love the UFC, I love the WEC, I love Zuffa,” Pulver said. “But I’m 0-5 (in my last five fights), so I get it. I’m a fighter. Fact is, I’ve been around a lot longer than these guys today, and I don’t make as much money as them. I’m 0-5, and that’s something I’ve got to fix with me — but I can’t take a year off to work on it. I’ve gotta fight.”
Pulver was the first-ever UFC lightweight champion. He’d lost five straight bouts with four of those losses coming in the first round. His last WEC appearance came at WEC 47, where he lost to Javier Vazquez by armbar.