For many, the athletes who switch from the WWE to the UFC somehow shine above the rest. It is understandable that they would be respected after leaving the theatrics of the WWE, in order to give actual brawling a shot in MMA. Phil Brooks, a.k.a. CM Punk, is the latest star to turn heads in both sports. In recent news, the onetime wrestler just had his first scrimmage as an amateur fighter. Some have said that he didn't fair well in that fight; however, according to other sources, this could be because he has been cutting weight so much that he actually belongs in the bantamweight division.
Before his time with the WWE, Punk switched between several different promotions. However, after finally finding his home with the WWE in September of 2005, Brooks became one of the most respected wrestlers alive.
Most impressively, he is known for being the longest-reigning WWE Champion of modern era. He held the title for an impressive 432 days.
Now, however, Punk has expanded his horizons.
He hopes to show the world he has what it takes to be a true blue mixed marital artist. According to ESPN, though, he didn't win his first scrimmage:
"Punk...fought Craig Eckelberg in a 'scrimmage' Monday at Roufusport Academy in Milwaukee...Of course, obvious question: How did the 36-year-old Brooks look against a legitimate opponent? 'He did pretty well against a guy who is 4-0,' Roufus said. 'Did he win the match if we had scored it? No, he did not...but that's cool with him. He likes the struggle. There are certain people who enjoy going into the fire and becoming a phoenix. Most people like to avoid that fire.'"
True, it was only his first fight, so not winning is very forgivable.
Also, according to Cage Side Seats, Punk might have been fighting out of his weight class anyway:
"Speculating on the rumors surrounding pro wrestling is a favored pastime of many fans, perhaps second only to actually watching the matches...the latest rumor being churned out [is that]...Apparently CM Punk has lost enough weight while training that it's believed he will fight at welterweight instead of middleweight as originally thought..."
What do you think about the situation? Let us know in the comment section below.
