After almost a week since the news broke, CM Punk's signing is still creating a loud buzz within both the UFC/mixed martial arts community, and the WWE, both from its talents and its legions of supporters.
The general consensus has been drawn down the middle, but it s safe to say that more opinions are geared towards the unfavorable. Looking at it on face value, one can easily conclude that CM Punk's UFC signing is a head-scratcher, to say the least, given that A) he has no prior MMA experience, and B) most fighters compete at smaller promotions first before stepping into the UFC.
It seems like Punk (real name Phil Brooks) is the exception to the rule in many ways. He managed to make a man like Dana White say yes to sign him immediately despite the UFC President's skepticism. This instantly brought in the questions on why ONE FC welterweight champion Ben Askren, who is ahead leaps and bounds in terms of mixed martial arts skills, was not given a deal by the UFC.
But as for the positives, most people agree on one thing: it is expected for WWE/Punk fans to jump ship to the UFC in an instant. Followers of both sports would want to see how another professional wrestler would do inside the Octagon, and given the Brock Lesnar success story, people would have something to compare Punk's MMA career with.
Quite expectedly, WWE figureheads who weighed in on the matter gave their full support to their former colleague. For "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, the UFC made a smart move in signing Punk, whom he believes would do "a hell of a big buyrate."
"I think he [Punk] rolls with some [MMA] guys and it's a very big passion of his," Austin said in a report by Cageside Seats.
Former WWE broadcast legend Jim Ross echoed Austin's statement, noting that Punk's name can only further strengthen the UFC as a global brand. "Good 'Ol JR" even went as far as defending the UFC's decision to immediately put the former WWE champion in a pay-per-view event for his debut.
"Dana White's signing of Punk was victory No. 1 for the UFC and for Punk, who likely should be able to use his CM Punk ring name because of prior usage before he debuted in WWE," Ross explained. "Without question, Punk's first fight -- and it should be on pay-per-view -- will be a moneymaker. Curiosity will fuel fans to buy it, many for the first time."
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