CM Punk's UFC career may not have reached the heights of his WWE career, but he says he wouldn't change any of his decisions. The WWE star moved to the UFC in 2014, announcing he had signed a multi-fight deal with the promotion.His debut match was at UFC 203 in 2016. mickey gal He lost the match by submission in the first round.
He then fought one more time at UFC 225 mike jackson He lost the match by unanimous decision. As such, his performance at that point in his career and his decision to transition into the world of MMA were criticized by MMA fandom and notable figures in the sport.
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However, during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Punk made a surprising confession about the time he spent fighting in the UFC. During the interview, Ariel Helwani I asked the question, “Now that WWE and UFC are under the same umbrella, a third fight in the Octagon? What are we thinking?” Punk replied: “I asked my wife the other day, and I was like, 'Well, what was I like when I was 35 and fighting?' And she was like, 'You know what, you're 36 or 37?' Even though it was about that, I thought, “What the hell was I thinking?'' ”
The WWE star also confessed: “But I get it, it's easy to laugh at it and make fun of it, and some people look at it and think, 'It's embarrassing,' but I gained weight, I walked, I worked hard. “I'm 100 percent proud of myself and I would love to do it again, because it was my lowest point. You know, I did it.''
And the honesty of his statement caught the attention of MMA fans, who highlighted their support for Punk's attempt to transition into the incredibly tough and competitive world of the UFC in the comments section.
CM Punk's MMA journey garners 'respect' online, changing fan attitude
Fan reaction to CM Punk's UFC career appears to be evolving, with many expressing new respect and support for his efforts inside the Octagon. Here are some comments from fans:
Fans pointed out that most people who criticize fighters lack the awareness that they have no idea what it's like to actually fight in a cage.
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“The average person can't do 20 push-ups anymore, but there's a lot to be said for those who actually compete.”
Others echoed the fact that just stepping into the Octagon for a fight is a challenge worthy of respect.
“He's stepped into the Octagon in the UFC, and I have absolute respect for him.”
Many even pointed out that even though his career wasn't what Punk had hoped for, he still fought at the highest possible level in MMA.
“Walked the walk. No one can take that away from you. There is no true failure when you are challenging yourself at the highest level.”
Fans also highlighted that despite Punk's valiant efforts to transition from professional wrestling to mixed martial arts, “internet culture” is full of vocal sections that constantly criticize Punk.
“It's common in internet culture for people to badmouth people like Punk, but at least he did it. The insane respect for stepping into the octagon is something to be proud of.” .”
While some of the criticism regarding Punk's status in the UFC is justified, others say he still “deserves” the respect he receives from other fighters.
“You can have an opinion about what the shoes of the UFC put him through, you can have an opinion about his views. But he went in there and fought. He deserves that respect.”
However, there were still detractors who claimed that Punk was not a “real fighter.”
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“I should never have been allowed to be in the Octagon with real fighters.”
Fans also noticed that Punk's promotional work compared to established champions like Demetrius Johnson, as it was revealed that Punk secured an estimated $500,000 in funding for his UFC debut, a goal fight. It was also pointed out that the amount of compensation spent was significantly higher.
“Most of the hate stems from the fact that he's getting paid like a champion defending his title again.”
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In conclusion, while his UFC career may not have been as successful as some expected, Punk's willingness to step out of his comfort zone and pursue new challenges has inspired many. earned respect from His journey thus far reflects the resilience and determination that comes with his WWE persona, as someone who continually pushes boundaries and seeks to redefine himself in the world of sports and entertainment. emphasizes its punk status.