CM Punk's UFC 2 Rating Downgraded By EA - To Dead Last

CM Punk has just undergone a sizable downgrade - in a video game, anyway. Following considerable outcry from fans over the fact that Punk, a fighter with zero amateur or professional fights who has yet to compete in the UFC, was reportedly gifted an 85 rating in EA Sports' upcoming UFC 2 game - the company has gone into damage control mode, and announced that instead, the fighter will be at the absolute bottom of the talent pool. Fighters in UFC 2 are ranked out of 100, and the 85 score put Punk well above the level many feel he is at as a mixed martial artist. On a Twitch livestream with UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson earlier this week, the creative director of UFC 2, EA Sports' Brian Hayes, stated that the version with the 85 rating - which put Punk above veteran fighters like Tim Means, and fighters from the version game in the series like Pat Berry - was a beta, and Punk's score would be adjusted. Hayes was clearly aware of the controversy, saying;

The Internet just lost it's mind over CM Punk having an 85 rating. That's not what his rating is going to be when the game comes out. I'm pretty sure CM Punk, when the game locks in, is going to have the lowest overall rating in the game.

From a pretty impressive score, to the bottom of the heap. Thing is, that's exactly where Punk's character should be, until he gets a fight under his belt. In a profession based on skill, experience, and respect, it really should never have been considered any other way. And for all the talk of the preview release being a beta copy (which is no doubt true), it's clear the company didn't expect the backlash Punk's rating received. Still, they're taking the right approach now. Hayes noted that Punk's rating could be adjusted after his first fight, which currently looks to be happening at UFC 199.

When he does have his first fight, if he just lights it up and looks like a prodigy, we'll have to go into the servers.

Going in after the fact is completely understandable. In fact, having Punk as a downloadable character after his first fight might have been an even better option, but in reality, EA Sports was not going to leave someone with his drawing power out of the game - especially when Mike Tyson, a huge fan of mixed martial arts, is in the game in two different flavours (young Tyson and mature Tyson) despite never having competed in the sport. In the end, it's just a video game - but the ratings correction will ease the ire of some fans.