CM Punk UFC record: How did the former WWE champion fare in MMA?

CM Punk, real name Phil Brooks, has accomplished a great deal in the professional wrestling industry as he was one of the most popular WWE superstars during his tenure with the company. However, his WWE career came to an abrupt end as he left the company following the 2014 Royal Rumble pay-per-view event. Later that year, he found his new home.

During the UFC 181 broadcast, it was announced that the former WWE champion had signed with the promotion and would make his octagon debut after he was fully prepared. At the time, the signing wasn't well received as he never competed in a professional MMA bout prior to joining the UFC and had no other professional combat sports or collegiate wrestling experience.

Although there was a comparison to Brock Lesnar in terms of being a popular WWE superstar transitioning to MMA, it was completely different as Lesnar was a decorated NCAA Div I collegiate wrestling champion prior to moving to pro wrestling. Meanwhile, Punk was an unknown in terms of what he could realistically learn in a short period of time, especially considering he was 36-years-old when he signed.

Nearly two years after signing with the UFC, 'The Second City Savior', now age-38, finally made his octagon debut at UFC 203 against Mickey Gall. It turned out to be a mismatch as the young prospect quickly secured a takedown and landed ground strikes before submitting Punk with a rear-naked choke at 2:14 of the first round.

Punk was given another opportunity in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois at UFC 225, when he fought Mike Jackson. He managed to secure a takedown, but it was still a dominant unanimous decision win for Jackson. The result was later overturned and ruled a no-contest after 'The Truth' tested positive for cannabis.

The former WWE champion never competed in the octagon after UFC 225 and would retire with an MMA record of 0-1-1.

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Nate Diaz was blasted the UFC for signing CM Punk in 2014

Nate Diaz was one of the most notable fighters that was upset that the UFC signed CM Punk.

Diaz believed it was a bad look for the promotion as he felt as though the perception of UFC fighters being the top professional MMA fighters would be tarnished because an amateur was able to compete just because he had a large following from WWE.

He said:

"You have this guy that's gonna come over and probably make more than everyone in the room...But why does he get a chance? He's an amateur. You're gonna put an amateur in the pros, that makes us all amateurs." [1:45 - 2:00]