That’s right, we’re not being Punked. Phil Brooks, aka CM Punk, has signed a deal to fight for the UFC.
The organisation announced the news as part of the UFC 181 broadcast, catching most by surprise.
Punk made an appearance on good friend Colt Cabana’s podcast last week and although he firmly closed the door on a return to the WWE, he didn’t give the indication that this announcement would occur just days later.
Now that the initial shock has dispersed fans are coming out divided over the signing. It is a strange one, but I’m excited by it and certainly wish Punk well.
Naturally, fans are comparing Punk to current WWE heavyweight champion and former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar entered the Octagon with a fair pedigree behind him, being the NCAA heavyweight champion and has since said he would have joined the UFC over WWE initially, had the UFC been as prominent as it is today way back when.
‘The Beast’ certainly wasn’t handled with care upon his entry to the UFC, being matched with former champion Frank Mir on debut.
Lesnar was probably used as a ‘sacrificial lamb’ in some respects by UFC President Dana White, at least until he realised that Brock could actually fight and the UFC could make a hell of a lot of money out of it.
Brock Lesnar’s pay-per-view numbers were more than impressive; in fact the two biggest selling UFC pay-per-views of all time had him in the main event.
Just like Lesnar brought over a tonne of wrestling fans, Punk will do the same.
The fact he has 2.1 million followers on Twitter alone shows his value, coupled with the fact his podcast with Colt Cabana, where he broke his silence over why he left the WWE, virtually broke the internet last week.
Now he’s probably not going to win a UFC title and perhaps not even fight a ‘big name’ fighter, and it may all go horribly wrong. But I’ll pay my $50 to see it, and frankly that’s all that matters.
There are a lot of questions that need answering. Can he actually fight? Well that’s to be seen. He doesn’t come from a fighting background, but there is somewhat of a base.
Punk has been training in jiu-jitsu for years with Rener Gracie, has a Kempo background and has had an exposure to Muay Thai. It may be ‘fake’ in WWE, but he certainly has the right idea behind all of his kicks, knees and elbows.
Another question, can he take a punch?
We all saw what a weakness it was for Lesnar and you just can’t be one-dimensional in the UFC. You don’t have to be perfect everywhere, but you’ve got to at least offer something in a few areas, with decent striking, ground game and solid defence.
As someone who stepped into the boxing ring a few years ago with no prior experience, I have to say I understand the motivation. I’d followed boxing for years, covered the sport as a journalist and hit the pads, but jumping in between the ropes was a dream and it’s something I’d love to do again.
For the record, I wasn’t very good and I technically lost my debut – thanks judges – but I loved it. I found I could take a decent shot, and I took several, but the experience was the ultimate challenge and I’m glad I did it.
But you just don’t know whether ‘it’ is in you until you do it. You don’t know whether you’ve got the chin until it’s tested and you don’t know whether you’ve got the heart for it, until it’s required.
For taking up the challenge, Punk has my respect and there’s certainly no bigger challenge than the UFC.
The final question, will his body hold up?
He is 36 years old and has been riddled with injuries throughout his professional wrestling career. He has significant wear and tear on his body and MMA is a very unforgiving sport. Only time will answer that one.
The organisation has been criticised in some parts and classed as ‘selling out’ for signing the former professional wrestler, but if the UFC hadn’t signed Punk, someone else would have, most likely their rival promotion Bellator.
Why give you’re rival an opportunity, that’s guaranteed to make money and bring new eyes on your product?
UFC president Dana White has already said that Punk will be fighting guys of similar experience, those with perhaps a couple of fights or less. This in itself is new to the UFC, with most fighters building their resume in other lesser known promotions before being given an opportunity by the premier mixed martial arts promotion.
If White wanted to make an example out of Punk or wanted him to ‘earn’ his opportunity, he would have made him go through the Ultimate Fighter, as he made ‘Internet Sensation’ Kimbo Slice.
The fact he hasn’t, gives you an indication of the level of opponent Punk will be afforded. White is a smart business man. He knows the box office draw that Punk will be, why set him up to fail on the first outing, when you have a multiple fight contract that will make both parties a lot of money?
Punk now has six months to train and learn as much as he can, although there’s only so much you can learn in that time, as he looks at a June 2015 debut.
Whatever comes to pass, I’m looking forward to watching it unfold and there will be millions of other fight fans along for the ride with me.
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