Due to a knee injury suffered while training in Iowa last Friday, Jens “Lil’ Evil� Pulver has been forced to withdraw from his World Extreme Cagefighting debut fight on September 5th against Cub Swanson.

“The biggest thing is that I’m disappointed,� said Pulver, the international mixed martial arts star who was preparing for the launch of the latest chapter of his storied career in the WEC. “And this is just an opportunity that will have to be sidelined a bit. But I thank the fans for all their support, I thank the WEC and hopefully they can get me back in there as soon as I’m ready. I also wish the Cub the best, and hopefully down the road I can fight him as soon as possible.�

Swanson, a rising featherweight contender, will face an opponent to be determined in a scheduled three round bout.

Pulver, the former UFC lightweight champion, was winding down his training camp in Iowa last week when he was injured while grappling.

“I was doing a guard pass and my foot got caught up in my partner’s shorts,� recalled Pulver. “He was pitching his legs down, and I made one move and he rolled the other way. My whole body went one direction, but my knee down to my foot went the other, it shot straight out to the side, and I heard an explosion. Right then I knew, and I was lying on the floor going ‘no way this just happened.’�

A visit to a local Orthopedist confirmed a MCL tear in Pulver’s left knee and no broken bones, but an upcoming MRI will determine whether the injury will require surgery or not. Regardless of the final diagnosis, Pulver expects to be back and better than ever as soon as he is cleared to compete.

“It’s been a rollercoaster life, and now I’m going down, but I’ll be heading back uphill in a minute,� said Pulver.

For updates on Jens Pulver’s return to competition, visit WEC.tv.