Ross: UFC Signing of CM Punk a ‘no-brainer’
Jim Ross: “For White, signing Punk is a no-lose situation. Punk brings with him immense name identity globally via WWE…”
This weekend the UFC shocked fans and media announcing it had signed former WWE champion to fight in the Octagon. Although Punk, real name Phil Brooks, has never fought mixed martial arts, the decision to sign him was a ‘no-brainer’ according to WWE commentator Jim Ross, who is uniquely qualified to comment on the situation as he spends time in both the pro wrestling and MMA world:
Today Punk — aka Philip Jack Brooks — is the newest member of the UFC and the response has been mixed. Some MMA purists are seemingly on the verge of revolt about how a pro wrestler can be signed to the No. 1 MMA company in the world while other fighters toil away in the hinterlands waiting to be discovered.
It’s a good thing that those who are squealing like a pig stuck under a gate aren’t running the show or handling the marketing of an MMA entity.
For White, signing Punk is a no-lose situation. Punk brings with him immense name identity globally via WWE, and his main event visibility there for the past several years. When one’s former company — WWE — is in more than 150 countries in multiple languages, then one of their top and most popular stars is going to be known around the world, which makes Punk a highly marketable fighter — at worst, one time.