10 Great Retired UFC Champions Not In The Hall Of Fame

5. Jens Pulver

Became the promotion’s first ever Lightweight Champion on February 23rd, 2001 when he defeated Caol Uno at UFC 30. Pulver defended the belt twice, defeating Dennis Hallman in his prime at UFC 33, and handing a young BJ Penn his first loss at UFC 35.

Pulver left the company undefeated after a contract dispute, returning years later in two unsuccessful fights with his final UFC appearance in 2007. Having never lost the Lightweight title during his original run in the UFC, he continued to fight for other promotions until November of 2013.

He carried a 6-2-1 record in the Octagon, holds the distinction as the first Lightweight to ever headline a UFC pay-per-view, and credited as one of the earliest successful pioneers of the “Sprawl and Brawl” style of defensive wrestling.

HoF wing eligibility: PIONEER