CM Punk News

WWE star CM Punk reflects on failed UFC career: "I would be kicking myself to this day if I said no"
Josh Evanoff - February 19, 2024
WWE star CM Punk just couldn’t say no when the UFC offered him a chance to fight in 2014. ‘The Straight Edge Superstar’ is one of the most popular personalities to ever come out of professional wrestling. However, after leaving the WWE in early 2013, CM Punk didn’t have any real destination. Feeling fed up with the world of professional wrestling, he instead looked to MMA and the UFC.

Court documents reveal UFC CEO Dana White’s reaction to CM Punk salary backlash
Chris Taylor - January 6, 2024
Unsealed court documents from the UFC antitrust lawsuit have revealed Dana White’s reaction to the CM Punk salary backlash. White and the UFC normally try to keep fighter’s salaries close to the vest, but that hasn’t stopped athlete pay from coming to forefront of discussions on a number of occasions.

Unsealed UFC lawsuit documents reveal CM Punk’s payday for Octagon debut
Harry Kettle - November 3, 2023
As per recently unsealed Zuffa documents, CM Punk received a big payday for his Octagon debut back in 2016. As has been the case for a while now, one of the big topics in the MMA world at the moment surrounds fighter pay. With the anti-trust lawsuit seemingly going to trial, things are starting to pick up in a big way.

Josh Barnett offers his services to AEW following CM Punk firing: “If Tony needs someone to keep discipline and sort out conflict”
Susan Cox - September 5, 2023
Former UFC champion Josh Barnett is offering his services to AEW (All Elite Wrestling) following the CM Punk firing. It was an official statement from AEW this past weekend which stated:

CM Punk names Japanese legend as his MMA GOAT
Susan Cox - January 3, 2022
CM Punk has named Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba as his MMA Goat. Sakuraba, the 52 year old Japanese fighter began his career as a professional wrestler for UWF International before joining MMA. His list of accomplishments include winning the UFC Japan heavyweight tournament in 1997, as well as many others too long to list, and he was ultimately inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2017.

Roman Reigns slams CM Punk for getting 'whooped' in the UFC: "I don't think anybody really believes someone 200lbs soaking wet..."
Christopher Taylor - October 15, 2021
Current WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns could not resist the opportunity to take a dig at CM Punk over his failed run with the UFC. The former WWE champion and recent AEW addition, Punk (0-1 with 1 no-contest UFC), made two Octagon appearances between September of 2016 and June of 2018. The Chicago native suffered a submission loss to Mickey Gall in his first effort and wound up being outpointed by Mike Jackson his second time out.

CM Punk officially informs UFC of retirement from MMA as he returns to pro wrestling
Cole Shelton - August 31, 2021
CM Punk won’t be competing in MMA anymore. Punk, the former WWE star, turned to MMA in 2016 and made his UFC debut at UFC 203 in Cleveland. It was a massive debut due to his star status in wrestling but he got submitted in the first round to Mickey Gall.

CM Punk's UFC 225 loss to Mike Jackson overturned due to positive marijuana test
Cole Shelton - July 7, 2021
CM Punk is no longer 0-2 as an MMA fighter, instead, he’s 0-1 and one No Contest. Punk, a WWE star, crossed over into MMA and made his pro debut at UFC 203 against Mickey Gall where he suffered a first-round submission loss. He didn’t fight again until June 9, 2018, at UFC 225 where he fought Mike Jackson. Unfortunately for Punk, the fight did not go his way and he dropped a clear-cut decision to fall to 0-2 and White made it clear that would be the end of Punk in the UFC.

CM Punk says he is not interested in Logan Paul MMA fight
Adam Martin - January 26, 2020
Former UFC welterweight and WWE superstar CM Punk says he is not interested in an MMA match against YouTuber Logan Paul. Paul lost a controversial split decision to rival KSI in a boxing match in November and soon after that fight, he called out CM Punk for a potential MMA match between two big names with minimal mixed martial arts experience.

CM Punk vs. Logan Paul opening betting odds released
Adam Martin - November 12, 2019
The opening betting odds have been released for a potential MMA fight between former WWE superstar CM Punk and YouTuber Logan Paul. The online sportsbook Bovada released the opening odds for CM Punk vs. Paul. Check them out below, courtesy of BestFightOdds.com.

CM Punk in MMA should be next for Logan Paul, says KSI
Adam D Martin - November 10, 2019
After winning their rematch on Saturday night in Los Angeles, YouTuber KSI says that Logan Paul should fight CM Punk next in MMA. After fighting to a majority draw in an amateur boxing match last summer, the pair were booked for a professional boxing match rematch. KSI won the rematch this weekend on DAZN by split decision, with the judges scoring it 56-55, 55-56 and 57-54 in favor of KSI. Paul was deducted two points by the referee for an illegal shot during the contest, and would have won the decision had those points not been deducted.

CM Punk leaving door open for UFC return, still in USADA testing pool
Adam Martin - October 21, 2019
Former WWE superstar and UFC welterweight CM Punk is still being tested by USADA, leaving the door open for a potential return to the Octagon. TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter looked into USADA’s database and noticed that CM Punk, along with Mike Jackson, Travis Browne, and Chris Holdsworth have all recently been drug tested.

CM Punk still in USADA testing pool, featured in new series
James Lynch - February 14, 2019
CM Punk appears to still be on the UFC roster. That’s according to TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter who noted that Punk (real name Phil Brooks) is still in the USADA testing pool.

Colby Covington trashes "emasculated cuck" CM Punk during UFC Milwaukee broadcast
Chris Taylor - December 15, 2018
Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington took some time out of his evening to throw some shade at fellow 170-pound fighter CM Punk. After MMAJunkie shared a photo of the former pro-wrestling world champion turned MMA fighter being in attendance at tonight’s UFC on FOX 31 event in Milwaukee, ‘Chaos’ took to Twitter with the following statement directed at CM Punk.

CM Punk addresses potential fight with YouTube star Logan Paul
Tom Taylor - November 27, 2018
After losing his first two mixed martial arts bouts — first a submission defeat to Mickey Gall, then a submission setback against Mike Jackson — former pro wrestling star CM Punk now finds himself in a tough situation. Although he undeniably possesses the heart required to compete as a professional fighter, he is simply at a technical deficit when compared to most of his potential opponents. Except, say, somebody like Logan Paul. Logan Paul, a famous YouTuber, recently competed in a celebrity boxing match opposite fellow YouTube star KSI. After this bout, Paul discussed a potential move to the UFC, and given his inexperience, was mentioned as a potential opponent for CM Punk. Even UFC color commentator Joe Rogan discussed the possibility.

CM Punk updates on status with the UFC
Tom Taylor - November 22, 2018
Former pro wrestler CM Punk has now fought twice in the UFC’s Octagon, but neither fight has worked out the way he planned. While he showed immeasurable heart in both contests, it was clear that his ability was not quite up to snuff, as he was first stopped by Mickey Gall, and then thumped to a decision by Mike Jackson. All the same, CM Punk says he is still under contract with the UFC, and that he is still undergoing testing through the promotion’s anti-doping partner the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Tyron Woodley warns Joe Rogan to layoff CM Punk: "You got smoke with him, you got smoke with me"
Chris Taylor - October 27, 2018
UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley did not take well to the recent comments from Joe Rogan regarding his friend and teammate CM Punk. The UFC commentator recently spoke about the former professional wrestler turned mixed martial arts competitor during his Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

CM Punk suggests he could potentially fight outside of the UFC
Tom Taylor - September 11, 2018
Former pro wrestler CM Punk is now 0-2 as a mixed martial artist. Both of those losses occurred in the UFC’s Octagon, where he was first submitted in the first round by Mickey Gall, then walloped to a decision by Mike Jackson. Since his loss to Jackson, which occurred at UFC 225 in June, Punk’s future has been nebulous. More recently, however, CM Punk has suggested that he still plans to continue training in MMA at the very least. And speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show this week, he suggested that he would consider fighting outside the UFC if the UFC is no longer interested in promoting his fights.