machete squad hq

I just wanted to call attention to a project that I really want to show support for.  Gregory Bayne is seeking funding for his documentary about Jens Pulver and the lead up and result of his planned March 10th fight with Javier Vasquez, a fight that may end up being his last.  Almost half of the necessary 25,000 dollars have been raised but if the amount isn’t reached by February 1st then the accumulated money will be distributed to projects that met their determined amount.

If you haven’t ever watched Jens Pulver fight, read anything about him or seen an interview with him then I suggest you do.  Here’s a link to his wiki, his book and his MMA record.  He’s the reason people love prizefighting and why the underdog inspires even the most jaded douchebag.  He’s a knockout artist that came from a brutally abusive childhood  and has seen the highs and lows of the fight world inside and out.  He’s on a four fight skid at the moment but like any charismatic person, you still can’t help but hope to see him land a massive overhand right and walk away with his hand raised a couple more times before he steps out of the cage for good.

"I am 5 ''6 but I could eat your soul if I felt like it."

The trailer itself captures Pulver as the vulnerable but scrappy fighter he is and for that I think that Bayne has the right intentions and will make a compelling film.  You really do never know which version of him will show up and we certainly won’t until March 11th but there’s something that drives us all to root against the favorite in boxing and MMA.  We all fight our own battles and seeing someone try and tangibly confront their demons and come out on top is inspiring, regardless of where it takes place.

Jens Pulver is a good man and people’s admiration of him makes sense to me.  We idolize far shittier individuals than him and we often do so with much weaker intentions and justifications.  It’s nice to give some money to a project and an idea that you can actually feel good about getting behind.  The fact that Everlast or Tapout or some other apparel or equipment company isn’t just sponsoring this is baffling to me but if it means that fans and audiences can have a hand in getting the story told, then that’s more admirable I guess.  Tapout is too busy developing Kimbo Slice’s new afro pick line I guess.

If you’ve got twenty bucks to help a regular guy in Iowa try to tell the story of Jens’ last march, then do yourself a favor and donate it.

Here is the link to the director Gregory Bayne’s official site. He’s also in post-production on an independent thriller about domestic terrorism and PTSD.