2. The Debut Of CM Punk
In the same vein as the aforementioned Brock Lesnar, the UFC is going to benefit from the boost in profile of another WWE performer when CM Punk makes his mixed martial arts debut sometime this year. Phil Brooks is a very different case from the former UFC Heavyweight champ in the sense that he has no prior combat experience (other than allegedly getting beaten up by independent pro wrestler Teddy Hart), even going so far as to use his scuffles with unruly fans jumping the guardrail as his background. What Punk lacks in qualifications he makes up for in following and interest, and his signing stirred up quite the buzz among the sports media. His career change was met with a fervent polarized response, with the consensus among fans being that hes probably going to get his teeth kicked in, but itll be interesting nonetheless. This is a guy with an incredible gift of gab and a knack for self-promotion, and any fight involving him is going to draw some attention. The most likely scenario is that he gives it a couple of tries and realizes he doesnt belong, in which case the UFC gets at least a few big buy rates out of him. If he somehow manages to develop into a decent fighter with a respectable career, the novelty will eventually wear off but youve added someone with notoriety to your roster that will automatically be light years ahead of most everyone else at selling a fight. Whether youre a CM Punk fan who is excited about him swimming with sharks in the deep UFC waters or a hardcore MMA purist who wants the mouthy pro wrestler to get taught a lesson and sent packing back to Vince McMahon, theres no denying that what happens with he steps in the cage is going to be a gigantic moment in 2015.