White: Why I respect CM Punk, and you should too
Dana White: “This guy was a huge star in WWE and he came over here and put it all on the line twice man in front of the whole world.”
UFC president Dana White appeared recently on Adam Hunter‘s awesome MMA Roasted podcast, and discussed CM Punk’s second fight on a pay per view main card. The first one ended in seconds, with Punk displaying no talent in a discipline that demands it. The second fight went three rounds, with Punk displaying genuine heart, but again no talent what so ever.
Punk’s first appearance, at UFC 203, added an estimated 125,000 to 225,000 extra buys. Saturday’s appearance at UFC 225 reportedly did not break 150,000 buys in total. White was asked if there will be a third fight in the UFC?
No, White explained, as transcribed by Jim Edwards for MMANytt. I don’t think he really wants a third chance. After this last fight, the guy has got balls man, he’s got guts. He went on the world stage and he gave it two shots man.
A lot of people talk s*** about CM, well get in there. Come on over. Have a fight and fight one of these guys.
It’s easy to sit in your living room and talk s***. This guy was a huge star in WWE and he came over here and put it all on the line twice man in front of the whole world.
If people can’t respect that, then they’re a f***ing idiot.
The issue is not whether CM Punk is a tough, dedicated, hard working guy who deserves respect. He is. He’s the older blue belt who sticks to it, and you’re impressed and maybe inspired if someday he gets a purple belt. The issue is CM Punk being one of just five fights on a costly pay per view main card, twice.
Punk had one of the best trainers in MMA, maybe the best, in Duke Roufus. The UFC released footage prior to the event, presumably the best available, of Roufus holding pads for Punk, and it doesn’t look good. Hunter enquired as to why none of his trainers or teammates tried to talk the former WWE world champion of the world out of it.
You can’t tell somebody, ‘Don’t do the thing that you want to do the most,’” replied White. CM Punk wanted to be a UFC fighter and he wanted to come here. He wanted it so bad that he dropped everything and focused on nothing but mixed martial arts.
If you talk to his team, next time you talk to Dick Roufus or Pettis, or any of those guys and talk about how this guy was driving back and forth from Chicago, how he would drive for hours and then train forever, you know. They all ended up respecting him.
The guy went in there and put it all on the line.
The episode is terrific as ever. In addition to White, Hunter’s guest include
Punk’s opponent Michael Jackson and Don Frye.
