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WWE wrestler CM Punk signs with the UFC

How would CM Punk go in the UFC?
Roar Guru
7th December, 2014
10

During the UFC 181 pay-per-view broadcast on the weekend, it was announced that former WWE star Phil ‘CM Punk’ Brooks had signed a multi-fight agreement with the organisation.

He is expected to make his debut sometime in 2015.

The reactions to the news were quite mixed. UFC bantamweight Russell Doane tweeted that Punk is an unproven commodity being given a shot at the big leagues.

Popular Brit Michael Bisping challenged Punk in a way that only Bisping could, while perennial UFC outsider and former Olympian Ben Askren was irate that a “fake wrestler” was signed ahead of him.

So really, what does signing CM Punk mean for the UFC?

On the surface this signing brings up the commonalities thought of by many between the UFC and the WWE. It’s no secret that the UFC has tried for years to shed any resemblance to pro wrestling. Dana White and company would rather be compared to the NBA than Vince McMahon.

With this in mind, it seems counterintuitive for the organisation to sign an 0-0 pro wrestler. But Brock Lesnar did it, right?

From a business standpoint Punk is a big name among pro wrestling fans. Like Lesnar, having his name on a UFC card is sure to generate mainstream interest and bring in new fans eager to watch the performer fight for real.

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The UFC is still starved for a star among the current roster. They’re trying to push fighters like Conor McGregor to the point of contrived celebrity. Perhaps they’re hoping that the charismatic Punk can become a face for the organisation.

Like any professional sports league, the UFC is a business first and foremost. While the organisation has done a great job of showcasing the world’s best fighters, at the end of the day it’s all about the bottom line. This move proves just that.

Still, the complaints of Askren and Doane aren’t unfounded. It reflects poorly on MMA when a celebrity without a professional (or even amateur) record is brought into the sport’s biggest league while lesser-known names have to toil for years to get there.

With that said, what about the sporting implications?

I had my doubts when Brock Lesnar was first signed in 2008. Hindsight would dictate that his stint as the UFC heavyweight champion wasn’t a bad run. He also raked in boatloads of cash for both himself and the UFC. His was a wager that paid dividends.

Then again, Lesnar and Punk are entirely different cases. Lesnar possessed an incredible collegiate wrestling pedigree and was an NFL prospect before going into the UFC. He even held a 1-0 record prior to his Octagon debut. He was a legitimate competitor who made a brief pit stop into the world of theatrics.

Punk is a long-time fan of the sport and has trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family but nothing from the 36 year-old’s past indicates any athletic skill that would carry over into MMA.

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In contrast to Lesnar, an over-the-hill boxer in James Toney was thrown in the deep end at UFC 118 when he made his MMA debut against Randy Couture. Sure, the style versus style nature of the fight brought in some outside interest, but in the end it proved to be little more than an expensive showboat against the boxing world. Not all bets pay off.

To Mr Phil Brooks, I wish him all the best in his endeavours. He seems to be taking the challenge seriously and has always respected the sport. With the right matchmaking, who knows? Maybe he might make a run of it.

For the UFC, it remains to be seen if this gamble for profit and publicity will pay off.

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