Jens Pulver To Return To The WEC in 2010

Posted by Larry Csonka on 11.02.2009

Lil’ Evil isn’t retiring yet…



- MMA Fanhouse recently spoke with Jens Pulver, who confirmed his plans to return to featherweight action in early 2010, discussed his bout with depression, his legacy and more. Here are the highlights…

On His Return: "I'm going to fight again," he said. "And I'm about as confident as I possibly can be."

On A Change Of Location: "For me, the biggest thing was that I wasn't going to take a fight unless I got out of the sad-ass circle I was sitting in Iowa, and I'm not attacking any one person there," he said. "I wouldn't do it if I didn't come home. God love the midwest and Iowa, thank you for everything, but I missed the blue turf, I missed the water, I missed the mountains. Out here, I'm back where I started and doing it right."

On Getting Older As A Fighter: "I'd just blank out," he said. "I'd stand there, couldn't think of my game plan. All I'd be thinking is 'Don't get punched.' Then, bang, I'd get punched. When I was younger, I was bulletproof and 10 feet tall. My feeling was if you hit me, I'm going to hit you back, and twice as hard. But over time it was like, Don't get caught.' I'm not using that as an excuse, just telling it like it is."

On Dealing With Depression: "I love feeling normal again," he said. "I've got my balance back. Before, my aggression level was wasted by the depression and anxiety. It became hard to do five minutes when before I could do 25 in my sleep. Now, physically, I feel great. I have an anchor lifted off my head and chest."

On His Legacy: "The only legacy I got is one: I'm as real as can be," he said. "I wore my heart on my sleeve. I gave my fans honesty from the day I started. I think I was one of the most genuine fighters out there, and if that's my legacy, that's cool with me."