CM Punk Addresses UFC Transition Criticism, Original Plans For MMA Debut

UFC

CM Punk has discussed his original vision for his transition from WWE and pro wrestling to the world of mixed martial arts and UFC, and the criticism he received for the switch.

In late 2014, less than a year on from his dramatic WWE walkout, it was announced that CM Punk had agreed to a multi-fight deal with the UFC.

Unlike Brock Lesnar, who entered UFC with a background in amateur wrestling, Punk entered the octagon without any legitimate experience, and given this fact, his immediate arrival on MMA’s biggest stage drew it’s fair share of critics.

Punk’s two fights in UFC, first in September 2016 against Mickey Gall, and second against Mike Jackson in June 2018 both resulted in losses for the ‘Best in the World.’ However, Jackson later tested positive for marijuana, leading to the fight being ruled a no-contest and Punk’s MMA record standing at 0-1-0.

During the latest episode of What’s Your Story? with Steph McMahon, Punk discussed his UFC run and why he doesn’t regret trying his hand at the transition, despite it being a bigger leap than he was originally intending to make that early into his MMA career.

Discussing his inspiration for taking opportunities that “scare the s**t out of him, Punk said:

“I’m inspired every day by my wife, I’m inspired by my trainer Jay (Ferruggia), I’m inspired by Chad Gable, I’m inspired by Bayley, I’m inspired by everybody else because I see them have setbacks and they come back from them. I’m not necessarily concerned with mine. But I constantly am just like, man, what a life.

“Before we sat down to do this they were interviewing me about a great many things and I was talking about Jesse Ventura. I said, he’s not gone and I’m glad he’s still here, but what a life well lived. He’s a Vietnam veteran, then he was a pro wrestler, then he had to retire for health concerns, then he became one of the greatest commentators of all time, huge advocate for the boys. 

Stephanie: “Governor also.”

Punk: “That’s what I’m saying. Like why not? I came from nothing. To me there’s nowhere else to go but up. I am afforded opportunities that scare the s**t out of me. That to me, is where my motivation comes from.

“I can’t remember, I was like 35 when I was like ‘Oh yeah, I’m gonna fight in MMA now.’ It was something I wanted to do and I was gonna do it. I was gonna start as an amateur and then of course Dana was like ‘No, you’re not doing that, you’re gonna fight for me.’ And I was just like ‘Uh, I can already hear the criticism Dana.’

Stephanie: “Yeah but he’s a promoter(laughs).”

Punk: Right. So, I just look at it like, ok, deathbed scenario. I don’t wanna be laying there thinking, I should have said yes to that. Because what’s the worst thing that’s gonna happen? I’m gonna get beat up? Well s**t. It’s in front of the entire world? Well s**t ok, alright.

“It’s not about the money, it’s not about anything else. It was just like, well I’m gonna do this anyway. You’re gonna pay me that? Oh ok, well I’m gonna do it anyway. I don’t like saying no to things that scare the s**t out of me.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Punk then discussed how he uses his experience being criticized by the public to help teach young WWE talent that such noise is not “the end of the world.”:

“I will run into a burning building, not just to get burned up, there’s gotta be a reason for it. I understand all the criticism of the things I’ve been afforded to do, like fight in the UFC. There’s privilege that I have used in those scenarios, but I still paid the f**king price. And the price we pay, as entertainers, is people, with Twitter fingers they can say anything they want about us. You have to come to terms with your own security in those moments.

“This is where I enjoy being a veteran because I can grab people on the roster and be like ‘Hey, stop worrying about what they’re saying, they’re saying that from a position way down here. Nobody punches down, they’re punching up. They would kill to be in your position, so you slipped or you messed up your finish, brother, this is live TV, this is the price we pay. And if you’re gonna get upset and it’s gonna affect your mood that much, you have to realize this is it, this is live TV, this what we do, s**t’s gonna happen. So just live in that moment. I can hopefully coach some of these kids some of these moments, it’s not the end of the world. 

Stephanie: “Do you think it’s perspective?”

Punk: “Oh yeah. Perspective, it’s experience, it’s just living life you know.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Three years after his last MMA fight, Punk made his return to pro wrestling with AEW in 2021 before eventually coming back to WWE two years later at Survivor Series 2023.

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