Jens “Lil Evil” Pulver is an American mixed martial artist (MMA). He was the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion, and was a coach on Spike TV’s The Ultimate Fighter 5 reality show. He is currently a featherweight with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC).

Pulver grew up in Maple Valley, Washington. He is the oldest of four children.

The summer before he entered sixth grade, a family friend encouraged Pulver to join a youth wrestling program. He went on to wrestle at Tahoma High School in Maple Valley, earning two state championships. Pulver wrestled for Highline Community College where he became an NAIA All-American. He then wrestled for Boise State University, where he received a degree in criminal justice.

While in college, Pulver’s interest shifted from wrestling to mixed martial arts. Pulver began competing in the UFC in September 1999. Pulver won the title by unanimous decision, becoming the very first UFC World Lightweight Champion.

Pulver has a four year old daughter, Madeline, and is engaged to his longtime girlfriend Kannika.

Pulver is the subject of the new book, NEVER, which discusses his life long struggle with depression, family, and religion; all of which are entangled with his career as a professional MMA fighter.