By Jesse Motiff – June 2, 2010 | ©Insidefights.com
UFC President Dana White confirmed on Saturday that Jens Pulver has been released by Zuffa. A report first surfaced nearly two weeks ago that the World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight, a former UFC champion and longtime fan favorite, had been let go. However, Pulver’s agent, Monte Cox, told Versus.com that he hoped his client would remain with the company in a broadcasting capacity.
UFC President Dana White confirmed on Saturday that Jens Pulver has been released by Zuffa. A report first surfaced nearly two weeks ago that the World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight, a former UFC champion and longtime fan favorite, had been let go. However, Pulver’s agent, Monte Cox, told Versus.com that he hoped his client would remain with the company in a broadcasting capacity.
“He has been released,” White said. “We had talked about Jens being a part of the WEC somehow, but he’s not broadcasting.”
Pulver, who has filled the analyst seat for both the UFC and WEC on past broadcasts, had hoped to be a part of the on-air team for the WEC’s next event, WEC 49, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
“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 (22-13-1, 1-5 WEC, 6-2-1 UFC) was the first lightweight champion in UFC history and is one of only two fighters to beat BJ Penn at 155 pounds. Pulver won his WEC debut at WEC 31 against Cub Swanson, but since then he has lost five straight – including the last four in the first round. He last fought at WEC 47 in Columbus, Ohio, in March, losing to Javier Vazquez by armbar.
