CM Punk: I’d fight Anderson Silva if they paid me correctly
CM Punk, newly signed to the UFC C: “But I would also fight Anderson Silva tomorrow if you paid me the correct amount of money to do so.”
Phil “CM Punk” Brooks has taken more flack from the hardcore fanbase than anyone since John McCain, for receiving a UFC contract with no fights, and no competitive experience in combat sports. However, he told Jim Rome that he was willing to go through The Ultimate Fighter.
“It was very much a kind of free flowing conversation sort of like, ‘Well if you’re interested in doing this we’re interested in having you on board,'” said Brooks as to FOX Sports. “So the kind of things I talked about in that conversation were, well, ‘Would you guys want me in ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ house? Is that the best way? Or is there another way that’s best to introduce the world to this idea?'”
Brooks spoke with Michael Landsberg on Thursday and responded to criticism that he doesn’t belong there. Nate Diaz, for example, famously called him a “virgin nose.”
“Look, this is where things will get said out of context,,” said Brooks as transcribed by David St. Martin for MMAFighting. “I don’t think Nate called me out. What Nate did was express his opinion on the UFC signing me and me fighting in the UFC. I respect his opinion. I’m still a Nate Diaz fan. I watched him fight last Saturday and I’ll watch him the next time he fights.
“Who I fight isn’t 100% up to me. I don’t think it’s 100% up to any fighter. That’s what the Joe Silva’s of the world are for. Would I fight Nate Diaz? This is where he takes it out of context. Yea, I would fight anybody given the proper time to prepare for it. Would that be a wise decision at this juncture in my career? Probably not. But I would also fight Anderson Silva tomorrow if you paid me the correct amount of money to do so.”
Brooks did not indicate how much money would be correct. The world contains approximately U.S. $1.2 trillion in actual US notes and coins. It would definitely have to be more than that.
Brooks said he should be ready to fight sometime later in 2015. In the meantime, Silva is already booked vs. Nick Diaz at UFC 183 on Jan 31, live on PPV.