All of the wolves in the UFC middleweight and welterweight divisions hoping for a slab of prime CM Punk should pick up their jaws, wipe up their drool and go find a bone elsewhere.
Unlike his predecessor Brock Lesnar, who went on to become heavyweight champion shortly after joining the UFC, Punk will not be fed to the wolves while making the transition to MMA.
Speaking with ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto, UFC President Dana White cleared up any preconceived notions that Punk would be fighting top UFC talent.
“He wanted to fight here,” said White. “He wanted to give it a shot, so we gave him an opportunity. It’s not like Brock Lesnar. We’re not going to throw the kitchen sink at him. Lesnar had a wrestling background. [CM Punk] is going to fight a guy who is 1-0, 1-1, 2-1—something like that.”
Punk, real name Phil Brooks, appeared on the live pay-per-view broadcast of UFC 181 on Saturday night to announce he had signed a fight deal with the UFC. The former WWE champion has cut his teeth in MMA by working with legendary Brazilian jiu-jitsu trainer Rener Gracie over the years.
Lesnar entered MMA with one fight already under his belt and an NCAA Division I wrestling title to his name. Punk lacks combat credentials, which is why the UFC has opted to ease him in.
White didn’t give an exact date for Punk’s UFC debut, but the former pro wrestling star will likely step into the cage sometime in 2015. Things become a bit murky when we consider an opponent, as the UFC isn’t known for brandishing start-up professional talent.
The UFC has endless options for giving an unknown prospect the opportunity of a lifetime. There is also the green matter to discuss. Jason David Frank, who starred as Tommy Oliver in the 90’s hit show Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, recently offered to fight Punk in his UFC debut:
Frank is 1-0 as a professional MMA fighter and 4-0 as an amateur. All of his wins have come by either first-round knockout or submission.
Perhaps the MMA world is as ready as it’ll ever be for a showdown between Punk and the Green Ranger.
Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA writer for Rocktagon.
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