Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
The former WWE champion was his usual honest self in a recent interview about his MMA and UFC future.
CM Punk is still a UFC fighter. At least he thinks so.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Punk dispelled rumors of a return to pro wrestling and updated us on his position on the UFC roster. According to the former WWE champion (real name Phil Brooks), he ‘peed into a cup not too long ago’ for USADA, so that certainly implies he’s still a part of the organization. And while he’s not currently able to train because of dental surgery, he’s still loving it and will continue to do it so long as that’s the case.
”I don’t have any date,” Punk told ESPN. “I don’t even know what I’m gonna do. I love the s**t out of it, so I still do it.”
But he’s very honest about the realities of his situation. Now 0-2 in the UFC in two lopsided affairs, he admits he’s not UFC caliber.
”If I was gonna fight again, should it be in the UFC? Probably not,” he said. “But again, I’m not gonna … be like ‘Hey, you should cut me.’ It’ll happen or it won’t happen. I’m not worried about it. … Every time somebody calls me, though, I’m like ‘Oh, this is it, I’m cut.” I think I’ve come to terms with it. I’d be like ‘All right.’”
Without any fights on the horizon, Punk has been enjoying his role doing commentary for MMA promotion CFFC. In fact, when asked if he thought his future in the sport rested in commentary rather than fighting, Punk gave it a “Yeah, maybe.”
”It definitely feels like that,” he continued. “There’s a gray area, obviously. Man, I would love to get a W, but I’m f**king old. Training camps aren’t easy when you’re old and you have as many miles on your body as I do. I break everything down into ‘Do I love this? No, I don’t love it? Then I’m not gonna do it anymore.’ And training and CFFC are things that I very much love to do, so I’m gonna continue to do them. I’ve said a long time ago, you never say never, and I think it’s kind of a billionaire’s mindset — if somebody offers you something, you say yes to it and then you figure out how to do it.”
As for why the UFC continues to keep Punk on the roster, we’re not quite sure. Maybe it’s too keep other promotions like Bellator from scooping him up and putting him freakshow fights that will draw eyes. After all, CM Punk is still one of the biggest PPV draws on the roster. When he fights, people tune in.
Or maybe they’re saving him for a freakshow fight of their own? With Dana White willing to put together Justin Bieber vs. Tom Cruise, perhaps the UFC is finally willing to pull that no fun stick out from their ass enough to put Punk in a fight against another celebrity he has a chance of beating.