The mixed martial arts world was sent into a frenzy with the signing of former WWE wrestler CM Punk on December 6 at UFC 182. Last week, the destination for his first training camp was revealed by UFC president Dana White.
Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, will begin training at Roufusport and is the second heralded wrestler—the first being former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar—to be plucked by White from the clutches of WWE chairman Vince McMahon. Much has been made about his credibility, having never fought in the amateur ranks before, but the former WWE champ told Anton Tabuena of Bloody Elbow that he is ready to prove his doubters wrong.
The 36-year-old Punk has the support of world-class jiu-jitsu practitioner Rener Gracie and soon famed world champion kickboxer Duke Roufus.
It’s one thing to go from a sport that is scripted to one that’s completely real and constantly evolving, but Punk isn’t going in blind. He already has backgrounds in kempo and muay thai, but training at Roufusport will take his striking to new heights.
Roufus leads the team of coaches up in the Milwaukee gym. The former IKF champion has spent the last decade perfecting the overall skills of MMA standouts such as UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and ONE FC welterweight champion Ben Askren.
“I like the challenge and I’m up for it to help him achieve,” Roufus told MMA Mania. “I didn’t get involved with this because I didn’t think he could do it. I think he can. That is the thing, he is going to fight guys in the UFC at his level, too.”
Before he even starts to prepare for his first UFC fight, Punk will need to hash out a Twitter beef with Askren. The former longtime Bellator welterweight champion has publicly criticized White’s decision to sign Punk. All systems go, according to Askren, who told Fox Sports, “If you read what I wrote, right, it was aimed at the UFC, not CM Punk.”
The undefeated 170-pounder considers Punk part of the Roufusport team and said he is more of a student “than anything else.” And what a better wrestling coach to have than the former Olympic gold medalist Askren?
Arguably one of the top-five welterweights in the world not signed by the UFC, Askren has smothered jiu-jitsu specialists and stand-up fighters alike. Punk will be brought along carefully, training with various levels of fighters in the gym and spending lots of time in the cage with Roufus.
“I’m going to do what I’ve done with some of my athletes in the past, which is build him from the ground up,” Roufus told MMA Junkie. “His first sparring session will be with me. I can score on him but not hurt him.”
The road that lies ahead for Punk is paved with many obstacles, from building a rapport with his teammates to getting accustomed to the nuances of an entirely new sport. He’s attempting to learn a sport at an age when some fighters begin to decline. Punk desperately wants to avoid being a James Toney.
Taking a punch is no easy task, and the fact that the Chicago native has dealt with concussions in a wrestling ring has his new head coach thinking about what life in the cage may bring for Punk. Roufus, a legendary kickboxer, admitted that he’s “very concerned about that” and compares his situation to those of fighters on The Ultimate Fighter.
Now, granted, Punk hasn’t fought professionally, let alone taken an amateur fight, but he will have the opportunity to learn from the best—behind the scenes—and from someone who will be brutally honest.
According to Ben Fowlkes of MMA Junkie, “If it turns out that Brooks doesn’t have what it takes to be a fighter, Roufus says, the veteran coach will have no problem telling him that.”
Punk’s relationship with the Roufusport leader spans “a few years,” according to Roufus, and he also picked the Milwaukee gym because of its proximity to his home state. In the months ahead, Punk will be broken down, probably beaten and treated like a 23-year-old prospect who just stepped foot in the gym.
There are several notable camps that the former WWE star could have chosen to call home. Jackson/Winkeljohn MMA, American Top Team and the American Kickboxing Academy would have all made for a fine start to his MMA career, but his connection—one of loyalty and family—is to Roufus and Gracie.
He needs to use the skeptics who believe his UFC run won’t amount to much success to his advantage. It’s good that there are fighters and commentators who want Punk to fail.
He’s not trying to follow in Brock Lesnar’s footsteps. His venture into the sport of MMA is simply to prove that he can hang with some of the most talented athletes in the world.
No timetable has been given yet for his first foray into the Octagon, and neither has a weight class, though he’s stated middleweight and welterweight are possibilities. It’s also likely that we won’t see the outspoken former pro wrestler anywhere near the cage for at least six months.
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