At UFC 203, the world tuned in to see the most popular WWE star of the modern era, CM Punk enter the dreaded Octagon to take on the relatively unknown Mickey Gall in a real fight. The rest, as they say, is history.
Displaying an utter lack of preparedness to fight on such a massive scale, CM Punk would last only 2 minutes and 14 seconds into the first round. Something that Stephanie McMahon would mock on Raw when the raucous Chicago crowd drowned her in CM Punk chants.
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Considering CM Punk’s obvious ties with WWE, we decided to compile a list of five stars with genuine MMA backgrounds who could take the fight to CM Punk, if the opportunity presented itself. It would make sense for Dana White to book these stars against one another in a real fight, as it is obvious that Punk is outclassed against genuine UFC fighters.
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This list includes both current and past Superstars from the company. Bear in mind that some of these fights will be in the catchweight category, as Punk is probably not in the same weight class as these men.
#6 Dolph Ziggler
Ric Flair once said that Ziggler could take out Conor McGregor. While that may be a stretch, Ziggler's own collegiate wrestling records are unmatched. At Kent State University, he holds the record for the most career wins in the team’ s history.
Moreover, he’ s a 3-time All-Mid-American Conference Champion, winning the tournament in 2000, 2002 and 2003. As it stands, Ziggler holds the record for the most pins in an amateur wrestling career at the collegiate level (82). Better watch out, Mr CM Punk.
#5 Shinsuke Nakamura
Today, we know him as the King of Strong Style, as we see him sweeping in with charisma and obliterating his opponents in the professional wrestling ring. However, Shinsuke Nakamura has had shoot fights in the past, both as a wrestler and a Mixed Martial Artist (it was an edict from the Emperor of Japan, that he had to learn MMA quite compulsorily).
Across 5 fights in MMA, Nakamura won three and lost one, while the other fight ended in a no-contest. While Nakamura hasn’t been in a professional MMA fight since 2002, we believe he is still a beast of a man and can take down CM Punk.
After all, even his professional wrestling matches have various moves incorporated from the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Its no surprise that his knees dislocated Samoa Joe’s jaw, and almost blinded Austin Aries at the Live Event.
#4 Batista
Considering Batista’s frayed relationship with WWE, there's a better chance of seeing him face Punk in an MMA match than seeing either wrestle again. When Batista was no longer associated with WWE in 2010, he decided to embark on an MMA career.
Batista and Strikeforce had entered into a contract in 2010, but the deal fell through. He would fight one MMA match against Vince Lucero, and win! This was for an event known as Classic Entertainment and Sports: Real Pain in Providence, Rhode Island.
A legitimate purple belt in jiu-jitsu, with an imposing physique, Batista is a dangerous man indeed in a real fight. Punk does not stand a chance at all in this catchweight fight.
#3 Alberto Del Rio
Alberto Del Rio is constantly in the news for being in real life fights. The scripted world of WWE did not really agree with the man, did it? Del Rio has a chequered background in amateur wrestling, He won a place in the Mexican National Team to go to the Olympics to compete at an amateur level, but due to lack of funding, unfortunately, his dreams did not come true. Thereafter he chose to work in MMA, and has quite an impressive record with 9 wins and 5 losses.
At present, Del Rio is also the president of the MMA federation called Combate Americas. Sure, Punk and Del Rio have faced each other in the ring several times, but in a real life fight, we give the nod to the Mexican mixed martial artist.
#2- Rezar
If you watch NXT, you are familiar with the bulky behemoths known as the Authors of Pain, who come to ringside led by the puppet master- Paul Ellering. Did you know that one-half of the Authors of Pain is a former fighter for Bellator?
Gzim Selmani, better known to WWE fans as Rezar, competed in Bellator 130, and although he ultimately lost via TKO to Daniel Gallemore, he has an impressive fight record of 6 matches with 4 wins and 2 losses. Unlike Punk, his first fight wasn't in the UFC, but that also means his basics are in place. CM Punk wouldn’t last a minute!
#1- Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar is yet another Paul Heyman guy, much like Punk used to be. Both of them have walked away from WWE after reaching the absolute summit. That’s where the similarities end. While Punk lasted just one round at UFC 203, Brock Lesnar is a former UFC heavyweight Champion. With 5 wins, 3 losses and 1 no contest across 9 matches, Lesnar has appeared on some of the biggest UFC pay-per-views.
A genuine threat to UFC fighters, CM Punk is certainly not competition for The Beast Incarnate. Thankfully, once again, this is a fantasy Catchweight match as these men are from different categories.
