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We don't know why, when, what weight or against who, but CM Punk sure will fight in the UFC.
The why (money), when (mid 2015), weight (185 pounds), where (Chicago, Illinois) can all sort of be deduced, but who the former WWE superstar will face in the Octagon is a much more interesting question.
UFC fighters in nearly every weight class have gone to work calling out the 36-year-old pro wrestler on Twitter, but they're wasting their breath.
According to UFC president Dana White, Punk's future opponent likely doesn't even have a Wikipedia page at the moment.
"[CM Punk] wanted to fight here," White told ESPN.com. "He wanted to give it a shot, so we gave him an opportunity. It's not like Brock Lesnar. We're not going to throw the kitchen sink at him. Lesnar had a wrestling background. [CM Punk] is going to fight a guy who is 1-0, 1-1, 2-1 -- something like that."
Paying to watch a fight between two men with a combined record of 1-0. Sounds like a plan.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
In case you hadn't heard. CM Punk discusses his decision to leave WWE for UFC, his MMA debut, critics and more.
Post show. Ariel Helwani, Dave Doyle and Chuck Mindenhall break down the top storylines coming out of UFC 181, including the signing of CM Punk.
'The trilogy wouldn't be a bad idea.' Dana White sounds noncommittal over Rory MacDonald's welterweight title shot after Robbie Lawler defeated Johny Hendricks at UFC 181.
Sub via eye poke. Francisco Rivera says he will appeal his submission loss to Urijah Faber at UFC 181.
'It's the minimum we can do.' Wanderlei Silva says he wants to help young UFC fighters who could stand to lose money on the UFC's new uniform deal Reebok.
MEDIA STEW
Octagon interviews with Robbie Lawler and Anthony Pettis.
Highlights from Hendricks vs. Lawler and Pettis vs. Melendez.
Dana White talks UFC 181 and CM Punk.
UFC 181 post-fight press conference highlights. (Full presser here)
Highlights from RFA 21.
Too bad the CM Punk news came out the next day.
Long watches.
Renato Laranja Show: Episode 5 with Frank Shamrock
...
UFC and Reebok cut a deal MMA Tete-A-Tete
...
UFC 181: Fight Club Q&A with T.J. Dillashaw
TWEETS
See how the pros reacted to Robbie Lawler winning the UFC welterweight title and the promotion's signing of CM Punk.
Victory lap.
Thanks to all my fans for the support!
— robbie lawler (@Ruthless_RL) December 7, 2014
Feels good to be back !!! http://t.co/K2JMb0ce1q
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 7, 2014
We did it... Huge thanks to my family, my fans and my sponsors. I hope I made you proud! #UFC181 http://t.co/ZxSoPzNMXy
— Todd Duffee (@ToddDuffee) December 7, 2014
What a rollercoaster. Thanks to everyone involved @danawhite @AMR_Group sponsors @ufc staff & @TruckMMA_UFC for the tough fight, I needed it
— Josh Samman (@JoshSamman) December 7, 2014
Eeehhh here's my stats from last nights fight. All I see is motivation baby. @pinospizza we were... http://t.co/TQNI0D6KiO
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) December 7, 2014
This is badass! The action shots are always epic! #UFC181 http://t.co/agWxFGOFAu
— Raquel Pennington (@RockyPMMA) December 7, 2014
Didn't get that finish hobar is 1 tough guy ! Thanks for all the support everybody getting better fight by fight! Good luck @Showtimepettis
— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) December 7, 2014
Better luck next time.
That sucked ! But I'm still getting a drink. So come join me. Sorry to all my supporters but I'll come... http://t.co/jH4m7BVrwm
— Gilbert Melendez (@GilbertMelendez) December 7, 2014
Damn. I'm ok. No injuries, just a heavy heart. Thank you for all the positive support. I l... http://t.co/10QSDXUuuc pic.twitter.com/cduAApTiy5
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) December 7, 2014
Sorry everyone I got tired and got lazy. I'm very disappointed within myself. Thank you everyone for the support!
— Abel Trujillo (@AbelTrujillo1) December 7, 2014
It's the hardest thing to see over and over hope to get a rematch @ufc wish we could have kept fighting its Unfortunate #ILoveTheFans
— FranCisco Rivera (@CiscoRiveraUFC) December 7, 2014
I'm all good everyone ty Things didn't go the way I wanted bet your ass I'll be back better then ever love this sport congrats @JoshSamman
— Eddie Truck Gordon (@TruckMMA_UFC) December 7, 2014
I am still happy 2 be here. Congrats @RockyPMMA & thank u @ufc 4 this experience. ILL BE BACK BETTER THAN EVER. That's a promise.
— Ashlee Evans-Smith (@AshleeMMA1) December 7, 2014
The face hurts but the FOTN bonus makes it better. I love working for the best sports league! Thx @ufc @seanshelby pic.twitter.com/US9CRyA4Hq
— Matt Hobar (@CrowbarHobar) December 8, 2014
Thank you all for the support. The fight didn't go the way I'd like but that just goes to say I still need lots... http://t.co/HECQZFRarN
— Alex Spartan White (@Alex_White_145) December 7, 2014
More reactions and call outs.
People asking why @CMPunk well after nearly ten years fighting the very best in the world, I deserve a break hahaha
— michael (@bisping) December 7, 2014
All you dummies believed @danawhite when he said I need more experience. Then he signs a 0-0 fake wrestler. LOL on you
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) December 7, 2014
"@MMASun: Seriously how about @Benaskren vs @CMPunk ?"maybe I only fight with 1 arm to make it fair
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) December 7, 2014
Anyone who likes this photo is entered to win my Showtime Pettis UFC 181 hat! http://t.co/FcXJ7Pwtit pic.twitter.com/6Aar38cu71
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) December 7, 2014
I want the CM punk fight @ufc 170 - 185lbs it don't matter! I will show him what 6years in ufc feels like
— Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) December 7, 2014
Hey @CMPunk if you need an easy first fight in the UFC at whatever weight I'm your huckleberry
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) December 7, 2014
Punk guy with his 1st UFC circus opponent... pic.twitter.com/5aLAgqELbX
— AL IAQUINTA (@ALIAQUINTA) December 7, 2014
Lol every UFC fighter no matter the weight wants to fight cm punk. They know it's easy money
— Cody Bollinger (@CodyBollinger) December 7, 2014
Justin Bieber has a better chance of beating Nick Diaz then CM Punk of becoming UFC champ
— John Alessio (@johnalessio79) December 7, 2014
I've trained with @CMPunk he will beat guys in the @ufc. All the haters can suck it.
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) December 7, 2014
Hey @CMPunk welcome to the fold. I started in the @ufc as 0-0 too. Live the dream, bud. Let the haters swing from your nuts. #PayYourBills
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) December 7, 2014
I will fight @CMPunk at welterweight in 2015, shoot I'll meet him in the middle 177.5 bec the real big guys will hurt him;)
— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) December 7, 2014
This CM Punk situation will end up like that episode of 'Friends' where Monica's boyfriend decided he wanted to conquer the physical world.
— Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) December 7, 2014
Just for the record I want no part of CM Punk!
— Thomas E Watson (@TomKongWatson) December 7, 2014
hey @ufc i know u released me,i'm a 55er but i'll fight CM punk in 2015 at 170 in windsor canada in march.great 1st fight to test the waters
— Jesse Ronson (@Ronsoff) December 7, 2014
I am saying is let cm.punk get settled in don't judge the man on one or two fights he is going to take a few fights to get comfortable
— KEN SHAMROCK (@ShamrockKen) December 8, 2014
You could say the cm punk situation is like miley cyrus licking a hammer...either you love it or hate it.
— Andy Ogle (@thelittleaxe) December 8, 2014
Congrats.
One of my greatest memories in the octagon. @Ruthless_RL pic.twitter.com/QGzO2wTN4l
— Matt Hughes (@matthughes9x) December 7, 2014
Book it.
Stop hiding him from me, give me my chance,let me have him at any place in April or May. @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta @Showtimepettis
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) December 7, 2014
Damn.
I'm confused inside mma. when did I lose 5 fights haha. who got me boys? When did it happen LOL http://t.co/BKUW55BHV0
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 6, 2014
Even more Askren.
"@AdamHillLVRJ: @Benaskren looked like you and Rory Mac had some words. Anything good?" I said when I get you it is gonna be an easy night.
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) December 7, 2014
Singing Meathead.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Dec. 5-7 2014)
Makwan Amirkhani vs. Andy Ogle at UFC on FOX 14
Chris Beal vs. Neil Seery at UFC on FOX 14
Melvin Manhoef vs. Alexander Shlemenko at Bellator 133
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via neonfish.
CM Punk - It's clobbering time
First off, I have to admit that I've been a Wwe fan growing up in the 90s and watched some of it ‘on and off' for the last few years. One of the storylines that kept me hooked was witnessing the ascension of CM Punk from Ring Of Honor almost a decade ago to the big leagues of professional wrestling. Here was a guy that nobody thought was going to make it to the Wwe let alone be one of their major players and yet against all odds and conventional business sense CM Punk rose up the ranks to reach the proverbial mountain top and finally get his due under the bright lights of the entertainment circus managed by Vince McMahon.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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