WWE star CM Punk, who had a short fighting career in the UFC, has expressed no regrets about his time in the octagon and hinted at a possible return to pro-wrestling.
CM Punk, a current WWE star, didn’t exactly have a winning streak in the octagon. But, no regrets, he says. He gave it a shot, and that’s what counts.
Saturday saw Punk at UFC 298, held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Post the pay-per-view card, he got talking with Sportsnet, a UFC broadcast partner. The topic? His return to pro-wrestling after a dramatic exit from WWE a few years back.
Punk’s take on it? “You never say never [in the wrestling business].” He added, “Who thought I would’ve ever fought in the UFC?” He credits Lorenzo [Fertitta] and Dana [White] for the opportunity. Had he said no, he’d be kicking himself to this day.
Regret isn’t in Punk’s playbook. He’s all about seizing opportunities, whether people think he deserves them or not. “I work hard for my dreams, and I will always chase them,” he stated.
He believes time heals all wounds and clears the air. “When it came back to wrestling, it was the right time,” he said.
Phil Brooks, better known as Punk, is 45 now. He’s had two UFC bouts. His first bout was against Mickey Gall at UFC 203 in September 2016. It didn’t go well. He later faced Mike Jackson at UFC 225, less than two years later. The result? A unanimous decision against him. However, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation overturned the result to a no-contest. Why? Jackson tested positive for marijuana.