WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has published a new blog at FOXSports.com looking at the news of CM Punk signing with UFC. JR, who has worked closely with Punk over the years, argues “Punk has already won in the UFC in multiple ways and he’s yet to break a sweat.” He wrote:
“White’s signing of Punk is nothing short of promotional genius. It’s a no-lose situation. Punk brings with him immense name identity globally via WWE and his main event visibility there for the past several years. When one’s former company — WWE — is in more than 150 countries in multiple languages, then one of their top and most popular stars is going to be known around the world, which makes Punk a highly marketable fighter … at worst, one time.”
“I’d surmise that Punk, a longtime MMA aficionado of the genre who has trained in Muay Thai and in Gracie Jiu-jitsu, has his training documented on FOX TV and via all UFC platforms. Fans will make an emotional investment in the Chicago-born fighter who was never supposed to become a WWE Superstar but overcame the odds working his way through the indie wrestling world to finally arrive at the top of the food chain in WWE.”
Ross knows there is a lot of backlash to another pro wrestler jumping to the world of MMA, but says, “This is about a man living his dream while he still has the time to do so and stepping into the Octagon to fight for real and for his own self satisfaction. CM Punk needs to know if he can do this.”
