CM Punk has officially announced he is stepping into the octagon during the UFC 181 PPV. Punk, who unceremoniously left WWE back in January, confirmed he was jumping to UFC during an interview with Joe Rogan.
“I’d say my professional wrestling days are over. I’m sure I’m going to have to do plenty of wrestling in there.”
When asked how long he had been considering a UFC career, Punk stated this had been something he’d been thinking about for a while.
“This is something that has been in the back of my mind for a very very long time. I have a background in Kempo. I’ve done Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu off and on for a very very long time. But the idea of being able to step in the octagon and find out what’s inside myself and test myself. is an opportunity that I was not able to deny myself. I don’t think I would have been able to live with myself if I didn’t give this a shot.”
“I felt like it was now or never. Maybe about three years ago I resigned with WWE and I tried to give it the old college try. And it is now or never for me. I have a limited time like all fighters do, and I fully intend to get in there… and I’m here for a fight. I’m here to get my ass kicked or kick somebody’s ass.”
When asked if this was a one time thing, or a full time career move, Punk responded that it was the latter.
“This is my new career, 100%. I am going to go full steam ahead, all systems go after today, and it’s going to be fun.”
As far as what weight he would compete at, Punk admitted that was “up in the air.”
“Most likely Middleweight. I’m going to do a test weight cut. I’m gonna see how I feel, and I think the option for Welterweight might be there. But certainly not Light Heavyweight”
Punk would not say who he would be training with, but that we would know very soon.
UFC President Dana White told Jim Rome that Punk would not get the same treatment Brock Lesnar did due to his lack of amateur background.
“He’s not a guy that we would do what we did with Brock; we threw Brock right to the wolves. Brock started fighting all the top heavyweights in the world because of his wrestling background.
“CM Punk, we would bring him in just like any regular fighter, and he would fight a guy with a similar record to his, which is 0-0.”
