CM Punk Responds To His Critics

CM Punk's move to the UFC continues to make headlines around the world, and while the news cycle will eventually slow when it comes to this story, it appears it still has legs for now. The most recent update? CM Punk has spoken to Rolling Stone in depth about his transition to the UFC, and addressed critics, ONE FC champion Ben Askren, and how he approached wife A.J. Lee with the news that he was planning a run in MMA. In regards to Askren, who voiced his displeasure rather comically on Twitter about Punk being signed with no experience when the former Bellator champion was told to get some fights in the WSOF by Dana White, Punk had this to say:

My only point on that is, "Don't be mad at me, Ben. Be mad at Dana ." I'm sure Ben Askren's a nice guy. If he's mad at me, I understand. But if the Blackhawks came to me before Dana and Lorenzo did and were like, "We're gonna put you in goal," I'd be like, "That's great. I played a little hockey when I was a kid." You know what I mean? I'm not gonna deny myself some opportunity because somebody on Twitter thinks I shouldn't have it.

Punk has a good point. We saw a similar situation on The Ultimate Fighter 20 this season, when Tecia Torres was given a second chance due to an injury to Justine Kish, and was brought back on the show. Some fighters were livid - but who among them, and who among all of us, wouldn't take an opportunity like that if it came up? Yes, Punk's signing has everything to do with star power and his celebrity status, but it's up to him to make it work, and the UFC is getting just what it needs: when was the last time Rolling Stone covered MMA? To the critics, Punk had more to say, including what many have been stating with a sly smile all along:

I've seen some people get really bent out of shape about it, and that I can't really spend time trying to grasp. If you're really that upset about it, you're going to see me get punched in the face, so it's a win-win for you too.

Finally, on wife A.J. Lee's reaction:

Trust me, whatever nerves I'm gonna have stepping into the Octagon will pale in comparison to the nerves I had when I had to bring this up to my wife. I was honestly terrified. I was like, "She's gonna shut it down, and I'm gonna have to figure out a way to smooth it over so I can do this, because I don't take no for an answer, she doesn't take no for an answer, and this is something I really wanna do." Right off the bat she recognized that. She's been around me long enough to know that, ever since the first day I met her, this is something I talked about doing, and she's not somebody that's gonna step in front of her husband trying to accomplish something that he dreamed about.

There'a a lot more to the interview, which was published today. It's well worth a read, and includes Punk's statement that he's no longer interested in headlining a Wrestlemania main even. It's full steam ahead in his MMA career.