WWE legend, current AEW star, and UFC veteran CM Punk is picking Francis Ngannou to beat Ciryl Gane and retain his heavyweight title at UFC 270 later this month.
Professional wrestling great Phil Brooks, AKA CM Punk, has a unique connection with the UFC. The multi-time WWE world champion was able to parlay his fame in that industry into a two-bout stint in the MMA world leader with no previous fighting experience. Although that short-lived run was a divisive tenure for fans of the sport, his ties with the industry weren’t a quick money grab.
Punk has been a fan of the sport for years, is a long-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, dedicated more than a year of life to preparing for his Octagon debut, and has served as an on-air analyst for CFFC for quite some time — while also being an active mega-star in AEW currently. Hate him or love him, he is as true blue a fan and supporter of cage fighting as anyone.
CM Punk picking Francis Ngannou over Ciryl Gane
Late last week, while in Philadelphia to call the action at Fury Pro Grappling 3, he spoke about several MMA topics in a conversation with “>Helen Yee Sports. One of the several topics during the discourse was on who Punk believes will walk out of the UFC 270 heavyweight title unification bout with all the gold. And “The Best in the World” is leaning towards “The Predator” on Jan. 22.
“My pick is Ngannou. Listen, Gane’s amazing. But Ngannou I feel has maybe fought tougher competition and just watching him evolve as a fighter; like the last Ngannou we saw against Stipe [Miocic] was levels ahead of the first time we saw those two fight,” Punk said. “I think he is progressing in the gym at such a fantastic rate. I don’t know if it would be so shocking if he beat Gane but he’s my pick to win.”
Punk is a Kazushi Sakuraba guy
Punk was then asked who he personally feels is the best fighter to ever compete in MMA. The assumption would be that the Octagon veteran might give the usual run-of-the-mill answers of fighters like Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, or Georges St-Pierre. However, Punk showed off his old-school fandom and went with a more subjective choice in a certain Pride FC great and Japanese MMA icon.
“I got a soft spot in my heart for [Kazushi] Sakuraba,” said Punk. “Probably a lot of people wouldn’t pick Saku, but I’m a pro wrestler at heart and I know Saku is too. He’s one of those guys that kind of captures everything I love about mixed martial arts. Perennial underdog. Ugly ears. What’s not to love?”
Punk fought twice in the Octagon. Losing fights to Mickey Gall and Mike Jackson. However, the setback to Jackson was overturned after his opponent tested positive for marijuana after the fight.
Do you agree with Punk’s pick for the UFC 270 headliner, and who is your MMA GOAT?
