UFC Hall 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. In actual fact, 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 almost 50 professional fights within the UFC, PRIDE, WEC, ONE FC and others. He has a transparent sense of delight over his Corridor of Fame membership, but mentioned he is aware of his place there within the Pioneer Wing is sensible, like he thinks it does for Frank Shamrock, who isn’t in but, both.

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

“However so long as you might have that Pioneer Wing, you can not not have Frank Shamrock. That’s sort of what was with me, and I believe with everyone getting behind me on all of it: When you have this Pioneer Wing particularly, there’s no means you may’t have the man who created the 155-pound division. I received the belt and defended two occasions, 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, 100%.”

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 battle towards Mauricio Rua at UFC 139. And Lawler’s a member for his UFC 189 welterweight title protection towards Rory MacDonald in 2015.

“I all the time had this one piece, and I saved this with me for a very long time: Once they speak in regards to the sport, do they should point out your title?” Pulver mentioned. “There’s no means 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 means you may inform the story with out having it in there. When followers speak in regards to the sport, who do they point out? Who do they speak about? Then you definately begin going from there: Has that each one been worthy?

“There’s no means Dan Henderson may by no means be. There’s no means 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 like Robbie – he’s my little brother. One other one: 100% needs to be in there. When you speak in regards to the sport of MMA, there’s no means you received’t speak about Robbie Lawler. Among the biggest 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 battle, and simply how lengthy he’s been on this sport – there’s no means you may speak about UFC and MMA and preventing with out speaking about Robbie Lawler.”