LAS VEGAS – The highly discussed potential future in MMA for Phil Brooks, aka "CM Punk," has come to fruition. The former WWE champion has signed a UFC contract.
The news was announced on tonight's UFC 181 pay-per-view broadcast at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Events Center.
UFC President Dana White stated in a Friday interview on "The Jim Rome Show" that Punk (0-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) would be in attendance at UFC 181 and they would meet about a potential UFC fight.
Those discussions apparently advanced quickly, as White announced Punk's signing following the first UFC 181 main card bout between Abel Trujillo and Tony Ferguson.
"My professional wrestling days are over, it's awesome to be here," Punk told Joe Rogan. "This is something I've wanted to do for a long time. I have a background in kempo (karate) and I've been doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu for a long time."
The 36-year-old recently ended his nearly decade-long relationship with WWE due to several concerns over working conditions. He's admitted to losing desire for pro wrestling and has stated he has no plans to go back.
That notion was confirmed in his interview with Rogan, as Punk said competing in the UFC is the final step in his athletic career.
"I felt like it was now or never," Punk said. "I have a limited window most fighters don't have. I'm either here to win or get my a– kicked … This is my new career. I'm going to go full steam ahead, all systems go."
UFC President Dana White said Punk's signing was not a "freak show" situation for the promotion.
"He wanted to fight here, he wanted to give it a shot, so we gave him an opportunity," White said in Las Vegas. "He's not going to come in like Brock Lesnar did and f—ing fight – we're not going to throw the kitchen sink at him like we did Lesnar. Lesnar has a real good wrestling background. We'll put him against someone who's 1-1, 2-1 or something like that. He wanted to do it and we're going to give him the opportunity.
"It's one of those things, he could be one and done or he could have a career here. We'll see. Like I said, we're going to give him an opportunity."
Punk said he will likely compete as a middleweight, but will first do a test weight cut. He said fighting at welterweight is not out of the question. He also said he's not sure what camp he'll train at or when he'll make his debut.
In the interview with Rome, White said if Punk was signed to the organization, he would be treated like any other fighter with his experience level.
"CM Punk, we would bring him in just like any regular fighter, and he would fight a guy with a similar record to his, which is 0-0."
For more on UFC 181, check out the UFC Eventssection of the site.
