Hey so CM Punk in UFC, huh? Best timing for Punk coming off the two parts of the podcast (which we can now cynically apply hindsight to understand why he decided to speak up NOW) and if Vince knew what UFC was*, he'd surely be going nuts. He will be booked carefully and make everybody bazillions of dollars - except later, he'll feel Dana cheated him out of even more. These are my snap predictions.
*Vince sorta knows what UFC is - it's that thing people keep trying to ask him about as competition during the investor calls
My major concern is that Punk is healthy and stays healthy. I hope he can make welterweight safely because middleweight is kind of a shark tank now and welter has a lot more beatable guys in the top 20 range, and they won't give him a guy with no name recognition or experience.
He's not beating Ben Askren or Johnny Hendricks, but I'd give him a good chance against guys like Jake Ellenberger or Mike Pyle, and a better chance against lesser top ten guys like Neil Magny there than against Jacare/Kennedy/Mousasi/Romero/Belfort/Machida/Rockhold
UFC isn't competition. It's not an episodic drama.
Punk is either going to be fed a serious ham and egger or this isn't going to end well. A 36 year old with bum knees and elbows, yeah sure why not.
I never actually thought of Punk as a legit tough guy. He actually has a lot more to lose here than to gain, but he will draw interest, buys and a fat check.
I hope the next announcement is UFC signs Teddy Hart so we can settle that story once and for all.
I also hope Helmsley shows up and has good seats for the first fight.
Originally posted by thecubsfan This really says more about UFC, who wouldn't have done a Celebrity MMA guy years ago and swooped in here. Standards change with PPV buyrates change.
I don't think this has ever been true, it's just the attitude they like to pretend is true--even if you discount Brock as a guy with a real amateur background and a preexisting (however short) MMA history, remember when they tried to get Kurt Angle on TUF? Remember when they got Sean Gannon because he beat Kimbo in what was basically a street fight or brought James Toney in for a fight because he wouldn't shut up about it? Hell, remember when they were trying to set up Joe Rogan vs Wesley Snipes?
The UFC works hard to maintain its air of respectability as a sport, but they are not and have never been above spectacle freakshow fights.
Originally posted by thecubsfan This really says more about UFC, who wouldn't have done a Celebrity MMA guy years ago and swooped in here. Standards change with PPV buyrates change.
I don't think this has ever been true, it's just the attitude they like to pretend is true--even if you discount Brock as a guy with a real amateur background and a preexisting (however short) MMA history, remember when they tried to get Kurt Angle on TUF? Remember when they got Sean Gannon because he beat Kimbo in what was basically a street fight or brought James Toney in for a fight because he wouldn't shut up about it? Hell, remember when they were trying to set up Joe Rogan vs Wesley Snipes?
The UFC works hard to maintain its air of respectability as a sport, but they are not and have never been above spectacle freakshow fights.
At the very least, the UFC used to have MMA newbies like Angle or Kimbo go through the Ultimate Fighter process to 'earn' a shot in the company. Punk has much less experience than either but watch this, his debut will co-main event a PPV. This is a pretty transparent move by the UFC and, as noted, a sign that they're really worried about the decline in PPV buys and general fan interest.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
So Punk calls out Ryback for kicking him and apparently giving him broken ribs.....and now signs a UFC deal? Okay, sure.
With all of this talk about declining PPV buys, I think that may make going all-in on the WWE Network a bit more justified, as they need a sustainable alternative to PPV.
Originally posted by Big Bad At the very least, the UFC used to have MMA newbies like Angle or Kimbo go through the Ultimate Fighter process to 'earn' a shot in the company. Punk has much less experience than either but watch this, his debut will co-main event a PPV. This is a pretty transparent move by the UFC and, as noted, a sign that they're really worried about the decline in PPV buys and general fan interest.
Again, though, Gannon and Toney disagree--ditto Lesnar co-main eventing a card with his 1-0 record. You're absolutely right that this is the UFC making a naked grab for fans, no argument there; I just don't get the people who are acting like this is a new low for the UFC. James Toney was a new low for the UFC. This is a special attraction that at least has -some- potential.
Dana has already clarified that they want Punk to fight another 0-0 or similar rookie opponent, so I'm real curious to see how they end up placing him and who takes the bait.
Originally posted by El NastioSo Punk calls out Ryback for kicking him and apparently giving him broken ribs.....and now signs a UFC deal? Okay, sure.
Ryback is in an industry where you're supposed to go out of your way to protect the guy you're working with, and yet he couldn't even throw a fake kick without severely hurting someone. It's also not nearly the only time that Ryback has screwed something up and caused injury to Punk or someone else.
Punk complaining about that doesn't show that Punk is a wuss. Punk complaining about that shows Ryback is a really shitty wrestler.
Originally posted by Big BadAt the very least, the UFC used to have MMA newbies like Angle or Kimbo go through the Ultimate Fighter process to 'earn' a shot in the company.
Except Kimbo didn't earn anything on TUF. He lost his first fight.
Have to agree with CarlCX on this. They'd totally have done this even at their peak a few years ago and it at least makes more sense than giving Toney a fight. I'd guess he gets fed a couple of cans and pops a buyrate or two then sails off into the sunset.
Originally posted by CarlCXDana has already clarified that they want Punk to fight another 0-0 or similar rookie opponent, so I'm real curious to see how they end up placing him and who takes the bait.
If he can get past a rookie or two? Nick Diaz. Nick Diaz absolutely takes the bait.
I know people will jump all over him about this saying he is not ready. He is probably more equipped to go into UFC than Brock was. Punk has been training hard for years on his martial arts on top of his wrestling. I don't think he will be champ, but I think his odds of success are fairly even. Lets also be completely honest Brock was 2-1 when he got a title shot and then he became this monster in UFC.
Originally posted by lotjxI know people will jump all over him about this saying he is not ready. He is probably more equipped to go into UFC than Brock was. Punk has been training hard for years on his martial arts on top of his wrestling. I don't think he will be champ, but I think his odds of success are fairly even. Lets also be completely honest Brock was 2-1 when he got a title shot and then he became this monster in UFC.
I assume you're just ignoring that;
A) Brock Lesnar had a background as an NCAA Division 1 wrestler. B) Brock Lesnar had already had an MMA fight before signing with UFC.
CM Punk has neither of these. But if you think that means he's more prepared, God bless you.
I don't know it seems like he going into the same thing he just left. With the only differences are he can only fight guys his size, he has no ground to say he should be paid as much as the guys higher up on the card then him, and he wont know the outcome before the match starts.
Dont say its not worth it, when you can sleep with no fear, that kind of time is worth any thing.- FFX
Originally posted by lotjxI know people will jump all over him about this saying he is not ready. He is probably more equipped to go into UFC than Brock was. Punk has been training hard for years on his martial arts on top of his wrestling. I don't think he will be champ, but I think his odds of success are fairly even. Lets also be completely honest Brock was 2-1 when he got a title shot and then he became this monster in UFC.
I assume you're just ignoring that;
A) Brock Lesnar had a background as an NCAA Division 1 wrestler. B) Brock Lesnar had already had an MMA fight before signing with UFC.
CM Punk has neither of these. But if you think that means he's more prepared, God bless you.
Lesnar was also about 7 years younger than Punk is now, which is a long time when you're talking about the kind of wear and tear wrestlers put on their bodies. On the other hand, I think UFC is about as fixed as boxing is, so I'm not terribly worried about Punk's career.
Well, last night I witnessed one of the best tennis matches I have seen this year. James Blake beat the almighty Rafael Nadal in 4 sets, and did it not because Nadal was bad, but because he played fantastic.