Former UFC champ Jens Pulver returns to action in March in Chicago

http://mmajunkie.com/news/22030/former-ufc-champ-jens-pulver-returns-to-action-in-march-in-chicago.mma

by MMAjunkie.com Staff

Twelve-year MMA veteran Jens Pulver (22-14-1) will soldier on.

The upstart Chicago Cagefighting Championship announced Pulver will serve in the main event of a March 5 fight card in suburban Chicago at The Odeum in Villa Park, Illinois.

Pulver will face an opponent yet to be named.

A former UFC lightweight champion and eight-time veteran of the world's largest MMA promotion, Pulver is currently mired in a six-fight losing streak, and five of the results have come in the first round.

The 36-year-old Pulver remains one of MMA's more popular historical figures. "Lil' Evil" debuted for the UFC in 1999 at UFC 22, where he fought to a draw with Alfonso Alcarez, who would win just one fight in five career outings. Pulver would improve dramatically in future fights.

Following the draw, Pulver would go on to win 11 of his next 12 fights, including a 6-0 mark in the octagon that included a decision win over Caol Uno to claim the UFC's then-vacant lightweight title, as well as successful defenses of the belt against Dennis Hallman and B.J. Penn.

Pulver then vacated the title following a contract dispute and fought around the globe, including stints in the Japanese-based PRIDE and Shooto organizations, as well as the now-defunct International Fight League.

Pulver returned to the UFC in 2006 and was defeated by Joe Lauzon. He served as a coach on "The Ultimate Fighter 5," and was then defeated by rival coach B.J. Penn on the season's live finale.

Pulver has since dropped down to featherweight, but he has gone just 1-6 since the transition.

Pulver's most recent fight was a 68-second submission loss to Diego Garijo at Powerhouse World Promotions' "War on the Mainland" card in August 2010.

Launched in 2010, Chicago Cagefighting Championship has hosted such notables as Chase Beebe, Jason Guida and Mike Lullo. For more information on the March 5 event, visit ChicagoCagefighting.com.