CM Punk recently headlined WrestleMania 41, fulfilling a wrestling dream. However, not too long before, the WWE star pursued a different fantasy by signing with the UFC.
His short time in the UFC followed a very public departure from WWE, where he opted to try mixed martial arts. The signing sparked significant criticism, and his fight results were unfavorable; Punk lost both his UFC bouts, including a debut against Mickey Gall that lasted just under two minutes in the first round.
Today, Punk appears to have renewed his passion for professional wrestling. Yet, UFC veteran Matt Brown remains amazed that the promotion allowed him to compete based merely on his popularity rather than demonstrated fighting ability.
Brown commented, “Regarding the Punk situation, it wasn`t really about Punk himself. Many people dream of fighting in the UFC. The surprising part is that the UFC permitted it at all. It seemed unnecessary. In my view, it wasn`t the PR success they anticipated. Perhaps I`m mistaken. It arguably benefited Mickey Gall more than anyone else. I like Mickey and we`re good friends, so good for him. But I don`t believe it did anything positive for the UFC.”
“You`re not supposed to enter based on fame or popularity,” he continued. “You`re supposed to be the toughest competitor. It`s supposed to be the most authentic test, right?”
Gall, however, had to earn his opportunity to face Punk by securing his own UFC slot after defeating Mike Jackson convincingly.
Although relatively unknown then, Gall was a skilled martial artist with a strong background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He held a 2-0 record when the fight against Punk was arranged for UFC 203 in Cleveland in 2016.
Brown recalled discussing the fight with Gall later. Despite both fighters having limited experience before the bout, Punk was fundamentally a professional wrestler and merely an MMA fan and enthusiast.
Brown shared, “What was tough, too, I spoke with Mickey about it afterward. I said, `Man, you must have been incredibly nervous for that fight because losing to CM Punk was unthinkable.` Plus, Gall was only 1-0, and this was his second UFC appearance. Think about walking out for your second UFC fight with that kind of pressure. Can you imagine? It was immense.”
“With all the media hype and attention, you`re facing someone considered a significantly weaker opponent. You`d become a laughing stock if he beat you.”
It ultimately worked out well for Gall, who defeated Punk by first-round submission and remains an active UFC fighter eight years later.
Punk, for his part, has stated he doesn`t regret attempting to compete in the UFC despite the unfavorable outcomes. His second fight saw him clearly outmatched by Mike Jackson over three rounds, though the result was later changed to a no-contest after Jackson tested positive for marijuana.
Following Punk`s two octagon appearances, Dana White has seemingly prevented other celebrity or amateur athletes from getting similar UFC opportunities, regardless of their passion for the sport.
WWE personality and boxer Logan Paul even mentioned contacting White about potentially having a single fight in the UFC but received no reply. Paul felt that Punk`s experience likely ruined the chance for any other professional wrestlers hoping to enter the UFC.
The entire situation still surprises Brown, but he suspects Punk`s unsuccessful attempt likely reinforced the UFC`s view that allowing such fighters wasn`t a good idea initially.
Brown concluded, “The UFC tried it once and learned from it. Ideally, they shouldn`t have done it at all, but it happened, and it`s over now.”
“As I mentioned,” he added, “Mickey got the most out of the situation. It turned out great for him. I`m uncertain how well it worked for anyone else involved, certainly not for CM Punk.”
Wesley Dunham