10 Things We Learned From CM Punk On Renée Paquette's Podcast

8. He Thinks His MMA Journey Was “Backwards”

Mike Jackson Cm Punk Ufc 225 14
USA Today

CM Punk wanted to leave pro wrestling behind in 2011 and pursue a career in MMA. There was just one thing stopping him: HIMSELF. He didn't think he had the name value to catch UFC's attention, so he wanted to depart WWE and "do it the right way" by training from the ground up, taking some amateur fights etc.

Three years later, when he did eventually leave the company, Punk received a text from Dana White. The UFC President wanted to know if he'd be interested in working together, and encouraged Punk not to bother with the amateurs because there was no money in it. That stunned Punk and seemed "backwards" - he couldn't fathom why UFC would be interested in him without any seasoning.

White saw dollar signs and crossover interest. That's why.

Punk recognises the sh*t he gets for a failed MMA career. He told Renée that he's nonetheless pleased with the hard work he put in, and thinks it's cool that UFC approached him first. "Let's do this before you get too old, but damn it - I was too old!".

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.