CM Punk: I offered to do ‘TUF,’ but UFC turned me down

CHICAGO — Several ideas have been offered in recent years in attempts to jump-start The Ultimate Fighter’s ratings.

CM Punk, for one, thought he’d be a part of the UFC’s flagship reality series.

When the former pro wrestler otherwise known as Phil Brooks entered talks with the UFC late last year, he went in with the assumption that with no MMA experience, but with a big name that could draw ratings, TUF would be a natural fit.

“I actually offered that to them, when they met with me,” Punk told fans at a Q & A Friday at United Center. “I said, do you guys want me to be on TUF? I’ll probably kill somebody in the house, but I kind of figured that was the route they were going with me. But they said no.”

With that out of the way, Punk, a Chicago native, began intensive training at the Roufusport camp in Milwaukee. He offered a progress report to fans, telling one questioner he’d fight by the end of the year if it was offered.

“I know I have personal goals and everyone has read the interviews where I answer this ’til I’m blue in the face,” Punk said. “My personal goal is the end of the year. But it’s really up to my coaches.”

Punk had originally planned to do a practice weight cut heading into this weekend’s UFC on FOX 16, given teammates of his were originally scheduled to compete on the card. But he scrapped the plan and will wait until another teammate is ready to go.

“I was going to do a practice cut in solidarity with Anthony Pettis and Erik Koch, because they were both going to fight, originally on this fight card,” Punk said. “But they got hurt, so that scrapped my plan. I’m waiting for the next team member who is fighting in the UFC to do the weight cut. I think it would be more fun that way, would show solidarity.”

Whenever the time comes, Punk insists he’s not going to fall victim to the infamous UFC jitters, having made a career out of appearing in public.

“I don’t know if I get nerves,” he said. “I’ve been out in front of people for so long, wrestling in front of 80,000 people is like, I don’t know, I didn’t feel anything. I’m sure there’s going to be butterflies when I step to the Octagon for the first time. But you have to know who you are. Belief in one’s self is one of the most underrated tools. I just had Chris Weidman tell me backstage that this is 98 percent mental.”

CHICAGO — Several ideas have been offered in recent years in attempts to jump-start The Ultimate Fighter’s ratings.

CM Punk, for one, thought he’d be a part of the UFC’s flagship reality series.

When the former pro wrestler otherwise known as Phil Brooks entered talks with the UFC late last year, he went in with the assumption that with no MMA experience, but with a big name that could draw ratings, TUF would be a natural fit.

“I actually offered that to them, when they met with me,” Punk told fans at a Q & A Friday at United Center. “I said, do you guys want me to be on TUF? I’ll probably kill somebody in the house, but I kind of figured that was the route they were going with me. But they said no.”

With that out of the way, Punk, a Chicago native, began intensive training at the Roufusport camp in Milwaukee. He offered a progress report to fans, telling one questioner he’d fight by the end of the year if it was offered.

“I know I have personal goals and everyone has read the interviews where I answer this ’til I’m blue in the face,” Punk said. “My personal goal is the end of the year. But it’s really up to my coaches.”

Punk had originally planned to do a practice weight cut heading into this weekend’s UFC on FOX 16, given teammates of his were originally scheduled to compete on the card. But he scrapped the plan and will wait until another teammate is ready to go.

“I was going to do a practice cut in solidarity with Anthony Pettis and Erik Koch, because they were both going to fight, originally on this fight card,” Punk said. “But they got hurt, so that scrapped my plan. I’m waiting for the next team member who is fighting in the UFC to do the weight cut. I think it would be more fun that way, would show solidarity.”

Whenever the time comes, Punk insists he’s not going to fall victim to the infamous UFC jitters, having made a career out of appearing in public.

“I don’t know if I get nerves,” he said. “I’ve been out in front of people for so long, wrestling in front of 80,000 people is like, I don’t know, I didn’t feel anything. I’m sure there’s going to be butterflies when I step to the Octagon for the first time. But you have to know who you are. Belief in one’s self is one of the most underrated tools. I just had Chris Weidman tell me backstage that this is 98 percent mental.”