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CM Punk’s UFC run was memorable for all of the unsuitable causes.
In 2016, the Punk, whose actual title is Phil Brooks, tried to comply with within the footsteps of Brock Lesnar, transitioning from the world of sports activities leisure to combined martial arts. Sadly, he failed to duplicate the success of the former UFC heavyweight champion, getting completely manhandled by Mickey Gall in his Octagon debut at UFC 203.
Punk returned two years later solely to lose a unanimous resolution in opposition to Mike Jackson, although the consequence was in the end overturned to a no-contest after Jackson examined optimistic for marijuana.
Regardless of failing to mild up the Octagon like he typically does the wrestling ring, CM Punk was closely compensated for his pair of lackluster showings. Punk’s disclosed payout for every battle was a cool $500,000, although a report from Bloody Elbow (earlier than being bought and stripped down to a shell of what it once was) revealed that the ‘Second Metropolis Saint’ really banked greater than one million {dollars} per look.
In the course of a history-making run throughout Punk’s temporary stint, former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson was understandably pissed off as soon as studying of Punk’s bloated battle purses. However as an alternative of letting it eat away at him, ‘Mighty Mouse’ selected to make use of it as motivation.
“A giant spit within the face of all of the champions,” Johnson mentioned of Punk’s UFC payouts on his YouTube channel. “On the finish of the day, it’s extra of a reputation contest that will get you the cash in combined martial arts than precise talent.
“A gentleman who’s 0-1 in combined martial arts, making $500,000 [per fight]. Clearly, he made that cash due to his wrestling historical past. I’m not gonna mislead you guys, this put a chip on my shoulder, and a foul style in my mouth as a result of I used to be doing combined martial arts my complete complete life and probably the most I ever made within the UFC was like $380,000 plus $40,000. It’s all public document” (h/t MMA Mania).
Demetrious Johnson seems to be again on CM Punk vs. Mike Jackson
“These guys belong within the newbie league,” Johnson mentioned whereas rewatching Brooks vs. Mike Jackson. “They haven’t honed their abilities sufficient but in combined martial arts to be on a platform like this. Each occasionally, you might have these fights the place you give individuals a possibility to do one thing, and that is what you get. This belongs in an amateur-level battle [league]. However I guess CM Punk beats him in WWE wrestling.”
Now 37 years previous, Demetrious Johnson continues to be one of many best fighters on the planet. Despatched to ONE Championship as a part of a historic commerce in 2018, ‘Mighty Mouse’ has gone 5-1 contained in the Circle, together with a flyweight title-winning efficiency in opposition to Adriano Moraes at ONE on Prime Video 1 in August 2022. He has since efficiently defended the title, closing out his trilogy with Moraes at ONE Combat Evening 10 in the course of the promotion’s critically acclaimed U.S. debut.
Lately, Johnson returned to the mat on the 2024 IBJJF Pan Championships in Florida. There, he took first place within the Grasp 2 featherweight division earlier than including a silver medal within the openweight match. Alongside the best way, ‘Mighty Mouse’ earned a victory over a 6’3″, 250-pound competitor, proving that with regards to jiu-jitsu, dimension really doesn’t matter.
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