CM Punk talks joining UFC, proving critics wrong, having butterflies, more

CM Punk

Former WWE Superstar CM Punk appeared on the FOX Sports 1 UFC 181 post-show tonight. Punk talked with Ariel Helwani about signing with the company. Below are some highlights:

* Punk said he’s been a fan of UFC for a long time and it’s been in the back of his mind for a while. He’s fortunate enough to be here now and re-evaluate things. He said he took one fork in the road earlier in life and now he’s here to take the other fork.

* He said if anyone is more excited than him, it’s UFC bosses Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta. They came to Chicago and met.

* Punk didn’t want to reach out to UFC until he was free & clear from WWE but they had small casual conversations before that.

* Regarding people saying he doesn’t deserve to be in the Octagon because of his record, Punk says he understands that opinion and it’s his job to change people’s minds. He says that won’t be one of his hang-ups and he’s not going to deal with negativity. Punk says there needs to be fighters that call him out but he hopes someone can be more creative than the “fake wrestler” diss.

* When his debut happens is up in the air. He says he won’t fight until he’s ready and he has Dana & Lorenzo’s word on that. He knows he has a short window but won’t jump into something he knows he’s not ready. He says he could train every day for 6 months or so.

* He said it feels like a dream come true and it’s the first time he’s felt butterflies in a long time. He also said it’s the first time he’s been nervous in a long time. He mentioned a lot of people including his lovely wife AJ Lee supporting him. He did not say her name.