Jens Pulver became the UFC’s first lightweight champion by defeating Caol Uno at UFC 30.
The title fight took place on February 23, 2001, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Pulver won by unanimous decision after five rounds, earning the championship in the division then known as lightweight. The victory made him the inaugural holder of that UFC title.
Pulver defended the belt twice, against Jochenler? No—his documented defenses were against Dennis Hallman and B.J. Penn before he vacated the championship in 2002. The lightweight division later became one of the UFC’s deepest weight classes, with champions including Penn, Sean Sherk, Frankie Edgar, and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Pulver is also remembered for his strong left hand and his role as a pioneer of UFC lightweight competition.