MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[Brutus]

Pulver

On June 1st, Jens “Little Evil” Pulver will attempt to join an elite class when he fights for his second world title in his second weight division. The Militich warrior will be facing an uphill battle when he takes on the reigning WEC Featherweight Champion, and top ten pound for pound star Urijah Faber In this must read interview a calm and confident Jens talks about his plans for Urijah, gives his predictions on some of the biggest up and coming fights, and has a special message for all you young fighters out there aspiring to be a champion. All of this and much more in this Big House Boxing exclusive.

by Jonathan Brown

JB: How is training camp going for your big fight with Urijah Faber next month?

JP: It’s going real well. Better than I ever could of imagined.

JB: What do you see as your biggest advantage going into this fight?

JP: One thing I got going for me is a lot of people get fired up…for a lot of people it’s their first time going for a world title. First time being on a big screen in a main event, and stuff like that. The one thing I like is that I have been there. You know what I’m saying? I have been a world champion. I have had title defenses. I’m not worried as far as this is a world title fight, or that I finally made it to the big stage. I have been there done that, and you know what? I love being here. I have had the belt, and I know I get to go for it again. I am real thankful this time around…I have been 5, 5 minute rounds before. I have dealt with the pressure. I have had the title defenses, so I’m going into this one with no pressure. I am going for another world title period, and I’m just having fun in the process.

JB: It seemed like you didn’t have that hunger in your last few fights in the UFC. Then before the Cub Swanson fight I could see you got that fire back. How did you get it back?

JP: I really attribute that to life…Getting older and doing my thing…I was at the top. I was a world champion, and then it was gone…I’m learning to fight like Jens, not like Little Evil, not like the guy trying to climb the ladder. It just took a little time to figure it all out, and get to where I wanted to be. My life has finally quieted down. I’m just real happy in every aspect…Right now I wake up in the morning, and I don’t hate that I got to train. I love that I get to train! I’m just more thankful this time around, and that’s what contributes to this hard training…So now I’m Back!

JB: It’s amazing what a change in attitude can do for your life.

JP: Yeah and anyone that says they are not a mental fighter I understand that. I’m not talking about going into an actual fight…When I say ‘mental’ and stuff like that: I’m talking about life, the everyday life outside of fighting, and learning how to cope with that: learning how to get older; learning how to pay bills; learning how to be a fighter; learning how to own a home, and just learning how to retire from fighting, and taking that next step in life. These things took sometime to get use to, and that’s the mental side I really had to work on, and I found it! I’m just really enjoying this moment.

JB: Urijah is a cardio machine. Are you training to go 5 fast paced 5 minute rounds?

JP: Yeah I really got to thank Kevin Jandt. I train like a tri-athlete: I ride the bike, I swim, I’m running, and my lifts are incredible. I haven’t had lifts like this in a long time. I got bounce in my feet. I’m not flat footed. I train everything double. I’m not training for 25 minutes. I am training for 50 minutes…I know it’s going to be high paced the whole time, and I know it’s going to be a tough fight. I know what I did before to get 25 minutes in, and I know what I have to do now.

JB: Urijah is 20-1. He’s on a 12 fight win streak all coming within the distance. How are you going to stop that momentum?

JP: There is no compensating for having the momentum Urijah has. He’s got the confidence to try to do anything, because his success rate has been real high…The biggest thing you have to do with someone fast and furious like that is put them in quicksand. You put them there, and then you see what they really got…This ain’t going to be a speed race. This is going to be a grind. To beat a fast flashy individual you got to stick them in the grind, and that’s where the wrestling of Urijah will come out, but at the same time that’s where you want to put them.

JB: In your fight with Cub Swanson did you feel a strength difference when fighting a guy at 145 opposed to guys you’ve fought at 155 and 160?

JP: Yeah defiantly. There is a reason why I have 8 KO’s, 1 submission, and have never been to a decision at 145. That’s my weight class. I wrestled at 142. I’m a month away from the fight, and I’m at 155 right now…The thing about fighting at 145 is when I push somebody they move. My power is a little more absorbable at 155 and 160. At 145 it’s not as absorbable. It hurts. I feel like I’m fighting in neutral territory at 145. I love it, because when I get into a scramble I come out on top. The 155 pounders have gotten massive. I mean B.J Penn at one point fought at 205. I could never even get close to that weight. Sean Sherk is a monster at 155. I look at Corey Hill he’s 6’4 and 155 pounds! You deal with that. I’m going down to 145.

JB: How’s Corey Hill doing?

JP: He’s exactly like I said he would be: He’s an animal. He worked his last guy. He’s fighting again in July. Corey Hill is finding his range, and is absolutely destroying people in the sparing room. If you by chance get past that mile long paved road he calls a jab, you find out real quick he’s a junior college national wrestling champion. This guy had no fights when he got on the show. He’s fighting guys who have 20-25 fights, and he’s already beating them. Imagine when he has 20-25 fights!

JB: I know you have been working on your ground game a lot lately. How is that progressing?

JP: Pedro Auera is a great coach. I’m just taking the time to really bring back my ground game. I don’t know when, where, or how I lost it. You know you get one knockout, and you kind of get addicted to it, and you want to get another one, and another one, and before you know it all you’re doing is boxing…I’ve found a new found love for wrestling, and I’m loving it.

JB: I saw that you were in attendance at the last WEC event. Brian Stann had a devastating knockout over Doug Marshall. What did you think of his performance?

JP: I like Brian Stann. If they call him the champion of the minor league division then that’s a hell of a guy to have as your minor league champion…He has already shown that he has the fortitude and tenacity to swing with you, and now your going to see him start developing strategies.

JB: How long until you think he’s ready to compete with the UFC elite at 205?

JP: He could probably do it now…He’s hungry, and he’s learning day in and day out…He’s training with Team Quest…He’s training with world champions, and people who have had 40 or 50 fights.

JB: Miguel Torres is defending his bantamweight title on the under card against Yoshiro Maeda. Who do you like in that fight?

JP: I love Miguel Torres…He’s the complete package. He’s got everything: stand up, submissions, and great conditioning. He’s a star at 135. That’s what I love about the WEC. They are giving the little guys an opportunity. These guys never had a chance, because what are they suppose to do go up to 155, and fight these huge guys…It’s great that the WEC is doing this, and Urijah has done such a great job carrying the torch for the 145 pounders. Now we have a home, and it is our time to shine.

JB: Rob McCullough is making his comeback against Kenneth Alexander. Who do you like in that fight?

JP: I like Razor Rob man. Maybe the belt got to him before, but the kid is a savage. Bottom line everything he throws is dangerous whether it’s off hand, or power hand. Every kick is powerful. He’s working on his grappling…I know he wants to get that belt back. I think he has a great chance to win and keep winning.

JB: Tim Sylvia has a big fight coming up against Fedor Emelianenko. What do you think are the keys to victory for Timmy?

JP: Tim’s got to stay out of the scrambles. He’s got to take him head on. If Tim can make people fight him head on he’s real tough to beat. I mean he’s 6’8, and he’s 300 pounds when he’s not cutting weight. He’s got the brass to stand there and throw down. He needs to go out there and force these guys to take him head on and crush them.

JB: B.J Penn has got Sean Sherk next. Who do you like in that fight?

JP: I love B.J in the early rounds. He doesn’t lose the first round ever! Anybody that tries to shoot on B.J they are going to find out real quick that B.J likes that. When B.J shoots it’s a different story. So is Sherk going to go out there, and stand with him and try to make B.J take that shot? That might not be a good idea either I mean B.J wreck GSP in the first round…The one thing I do give Sherk is the guy can do that speed all day long…If it gets to that 4th or 5th round you got to give it to Sherk grinding it out. Is it going to be flashy? Probably not…He will be ground and pounding, and just grinding away scoring points.

JB: I know you are a big boxing fan. What did you think of Margrito’s destruction of Kermit Cintron?

JP: You know I watched that, and all I have to say is wow! He made Kermit look…I don’t want to say heartless, but he did…If you look at Kermit’s knockout ratio he expects people to fall down when they get hit with those punches. Margartito was like ‘Oh good you got me with that one punch. Now watch the 16 I throw at your face’. With guys like Margarito you need to give up looking for the knock out, and just start landing damage. You want to hit him as many places as you can. Put as much leather as you can on him, and that’s what Margarito does. He decimated him, and Kermit was looking for the back door fast. That’s what happens when you think about your power, and punch somebody hard, and they are unaffected. When your punch doesn’t work the air in your tires start to seep out, and it sucks. Now it’s like are you willing dance here in the fire, because you might really go to hell so to speak.

JB: So now that sets up a super fight between Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto. Who do you like in that fight?

JP: Cotto is good. He’s is hardnosed, but is he as hardnosed as Margarito? No, but he hits hard, so he’s got to do what Kermit couldn’t do. You got to damage him…You got to make him think I can’t keep getting into these punching flurries with this guy, because he’s starting to beat me up. My ribs are starting to come loose, and Cotto does a good job at doing that. He’s (Cotto) almost like a pretty fighter. Margarito's not a pretty fighter. That boy is straight nasty…He’s got no flash whatsoever. He doesn’t care about flash. He’s just coming. He bites down on his mouth piece, and just lets it go. It will be interesting to see if Margarito can break Cotto’s spirit as well. Cotto has to come in with the mindset I’m going to hit anything that moves. I’m going to hit anything that’s open whether it be upstairs or downstairs, and really set it up that’s what Margarito does. The kid (Margarito) throws a hundred punches a round. He will beat up your right side, your left side; he will beat up your ears, the side of your head etc. He doesn’t have to hit you dead in the chin. He’s not even looking to hit you in the chin. He’s just looking to hit you. For Cotto, it’s important to just keep putting the gloves on him, and after the Mosley fight Cotto has really started to understand that and it’s going to help him when he comes into this fight.

JB: We have many young fighters training at Big House Boxing aspiring to be a world class fighter like you. What advice can you give to our fighters aspiring to get there?

JP: One of the biggest things is you see a lot of young fighters with a lot of talent. Talent alone won’t make you into a great fighter. When these talented fighters get in there with someone like me that is not chalk full of natural talent, but stays in the gym and works hard all day, they learn that to beat me you’re going to have to pay the price to do it. Young fighters need to grab that hunger and tenacity, and take into the cage with them. You got to train that way. You got to train hungry. You have to run. You have to diet. Put the partying aside. Put the social scene aside and make it happen. You got to train day in and day out…Start working on your game…What separates the men from the boys is that grit. That’s why I like Margarito. Look at that grit. He’s got no flash whatsoever. He’s as gritty as they come…You got to just break spirits. That wins a fight faster then any left hand, right hand, arm bar, or triangle choke. Breaking their spirits that’s what does it. You have to have the confidence, and the conditioning to do it. That’s the best thing in the world.

JB: Thanks Jens it was a pleasure.

JP: Alright man I’ll talk to you soon.

Jens by TKO rd 2

[Crooklyn]

Great interview

[mmasince91]

vERY NICE INTERVIEW! Rep'd

[TN94z]

I really like Pulver. This is going to be a GREAT fight!

[peno]

Great find! I'd love to see Jens run the table at 145.

I really like both fighters in this fight but I gotta give the nod to Jens. He catches Faber on the button with that left hand of his and We'll see the "quick sand" Jens is talk'n about.

[Warchief]

I wanna see him back in the UFC.

[Brutus]

Originally Posted by Warchief

I wanna see him back in the UFC.

Well at least he's still under the Zuffa banner and can be called up but I really like the fact that he's at 45. He is a badass there and I really think he'll do a ton of damage there.

If he gets back to the UFC i'll be about the same time they introduce a 145lb division.

[Dimson]

I can't wait to see Pulver fight. been a fan of his every since TUF. Also great to see cory Hill is training like an animal. Hope his next fight makes it on to the PPV.

[ninjastix]

JB: B.J Penn has got Sean Sherk next. Who do you like in that fight?

JP: I love B.J in the early rounds. He doesn’t lose the first round ever! Anybody that tries to shoot on B.J they are going to find out real quick that B.J likes that. When B.J shoots it’s a different story. So is Sherk going to go out there, and stand with him and try to make B.J take that shot? That might not be a good idea either I mean B.J wreck GSP in the first round…The one thing I do give Sherk is the guy can do that speed all day long…If it gets to that 4th or 5th round you got to give it to Sherk grinding it out. Is it going to be flashy? Probably not…He will be ground and pounding, and just grinding away scoring points.

Talk about hitting the nail on the head...

[TN94z]

I just can't see Pulver winning the fight. I think the only thing he has over Urijah is power. The problem is going to be landing that shot on the button. Urijah is hard to catch and seems to have a good chin from what I have seen. I just see this going completely Faber's way no matter where it ends up