A cult of personality swept across the UFC landscape last night, as it was announced during the UFC 181 pay-per-view that former professional wrestler Phil “CM Punk” Brooks had signed a multi-fight deal with the promotion and is expected to make his debut next year.
Despite a controversial; and possibly questionable, decision coming out of last night’s event, which saw Robbie Lawler crowned the new welterweight champion of the world, it is the signing of Brooks that has swept the martial arts landscape, as fans show mixed reaction to the former WWE champion’s move into combat reality.
After a falling out with the WWE executives, mainly Vince McMahon and Triple H (Paul Levesque) Brooks married fellow wrestling personality April Jeanette Mendez (AJ Lee) in June, and simultaneously received his pink slip from the WWE, and vowed to never return to the promotion he once ruled.
Now, the man formerly know as CM Punk (or possibly still is, we don’t know) is set to make his MMA debut in 2015, and is expected to make his debut at either middleweight or welterweight.
Two divisions of killers, more than a handful of vastly experienced opponents, is Punk out of his depth? Well it would look so, however with a background in kempo karate and Brazilian jiu jitsu he stands somewhat of a chance right? The UFC’s decision to sign a well-known wrestling character over a proven talent such as Ben Askren has sure raised a few eyebrows, but there is definitive reason for doing so.
In an age of limited draws in the UFC, no longer can the promotion rely on the star power of Chuck Liddell, Brock Lesnar and Georges St-Pierre, and with Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey looking like the only long-term legitimate money makers, alarm bells have been ringing.
The reason why the UFC have made such a huge deal out of the Brooks signing is because it brings in a whole new audience to MMA. Recently it’s seemed that that the casual fan has lost interest in the product. By bringing in a huge non-MMA related name, a draw, someone who right now is still very popular, it helps bring back those casual fans who will be interested to see how Brooks fairs in his new endeavours.
Punk is excellent on the microphone, he seems to have some background in martial arts and heck, it’s an exciting concept that has got people talking. We need to see more of that in MMA, legitimate buzz around announcements, the time is now for Brooks,and President Dana White has promised to build him slowly against fairly matched opponents, so don’t expect Lyoto Machida vs CM Punk any time soon. The Green Power Ranger, Jason David Frank has been calling for a fight with Brooks for a long time, so that is another outlet the UFC can pursue if they are looking to bring in old school fans of spandex and giant Asian robots.
He may have pissed off 90% of the UFC roster with his signing, but let’s face it, he’s going to draw money, he’s going to bring in fans and he’s going to put people in seats, and in the current financial climate, that’s all that matters.
MMA PLUS React
Roberto Reid: Without a doubt the signing of Phil Brooks, or as he has become more commonly known, CM Punk, has no doubt polarised opinions within the mixed martial arts community. Of course there is going to be the haters, those individuals who will, without a seconds thought write off the 36-year old former WWE champion’s chances of giving it a real go.
On the opposite side of the fence are those fans who will be celebrating the signing of one the biggest names in sports entertainment. I find myself placed somewhere in the middle and have instead chosen to air on the side of caution and wait and see what the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt under Rener Gracie who also has a background Kenpo karate does when his first enters the octagon.
Regardless of the outcome make no mistake weather you love him or hate him when the Chicago native makes his debut the buy rates for that pay-per-view will be a big win for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Win or lose, the signing of CM Punk is the biggest thing to happen to mixed martial arts in a long time.
Jorden Curran: I’m a huge fan of the guy, I have a tonne of respect for his attitude and how he comes across as a person; however, for me it has to come back around to sporting morals and the UFC’s credibility as a representative of top flight MMA, showcasing who they claim to be the world’s elite fighters.
It pains me to say it, but CM Punk doesn’t belong in there unless the UFC acknowledge the move as some kind of exhibition/experiment, at least for his debut (he has time to put some solid training together, he may yet prove to be a great fighter).
Zero fight experience alongside ‘on and off’ Gracie jiu jitsu with some kempo experience simply doesn’t warrant a place in the UFC no matter how much of a draw you are; Brock Lesnar was already proven to be an elite wrestler with a somewhat credible victory outside of the UFC, and so I don’t think the two can relate. Having said that, I’m excited to see him in action – I can’t lie, I was buzzing when it was announced and I’ll quite likely be buzzing on fight night, I wish him all the best.
While I feel some of the UFC’s actions in their pursuit of brand development might be questionable, CM Punk is right to chase a life goal, as is anyone, so good for him!
What are your thoughts on the signing of CM Punk? Leave a comment below.
