Ben Askren discusses fans hating on CM Punk

Phil Brooks, better known as CM Punk has been a magnet for criticism coming from the two worlds of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. After turning his back on professional wrestling to give a shot at MMA, fans from the WWE will have to wait and see if Punk ever makes it back to the ring as a wrestler while MMA fans await his debut to see what kind of skills he possess in the Octagon.

Current ONE Championship welterweight champion, Ben Askren spoke with MMA Fighting about the criticism of his new Roufusport teammate and student.

“Maybe jealousy,” Askren said. “I would guess that’s a pretty good answer. He’s been famous, he’s made a lot of money, he’s got a hot wife. There’s a lot of things about him that people would probably be jealous of. I would guess that’s it.”

Some skeptics have come up with the theory that the UFC signing Punk has all been a marketing ploy and the former WEE star will never actually fight in the Octagon.

“If he’s not gonna fight, he fooled me,” said Askren. “I’ve heard that and people have asked me that. He’s in the gym all the time and he’s training all the time, so that would sure be a lot of effort to put into a publicity stunt. You’d think if it was a publicity stunt he’d maybe show up once a week or once a month. For a while before he was injured, he was in there twice a day, every day.”

While Punk has yet to sign a fight with an opponent, both fans and skeptics will have to wait and see what comes of the former WWE star. As far as Askren’s outlook on Punk’s career in MMA, he doesn’t see anything holding him back.

“Success is a skill and the guy has been super successful in another field,” Askren said. “So I don’t think there’s any reason why he can’t be successful at this one.”