Former WWE Superstar CM Punk had a busy weekend with the UFC as he hosted the weigh-ins on Friday, did a Q&A and appeared Cageside at the UFC 182 event in Las Vegas.
During the Q&A, Punk said he didn't join UFC just to spite the WWE as that would be "ridiculous" and he also added that it is a personal journey for him.
The former WWE Champion also noted that the injuries he suffered from his time in the squared circle won't factor into his training for UFC. It is expected that Punk's first fight with the promotion will be later this year.
Regarding who Punk may fight, there is no word yet who his initial opponent will be, but actor Ed O'Neill, who is known for his roles on "Married with Children" and "Modern Family" sent out the following playful tweet to Punk:
Word is @CMPunk still has no opponent for @ufc debut. Making my last attempt here pic.twitter.com/EijkOtwpqd
— Ed O'Neill (@RealEdOneill) January 3, 2015
Punk was also seen cageside Saturday night next to former NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal:
Damn, Shaq is there too! Wonder how it's going with him and CM Punk? @ufc #UFC182 pic.twitter.com/2RjVM0byUg — Nick Wozniak (@WOZ93) January 4, 2015
Punk also spoke with former WWE announcer Todd Grisham, who now works for ESPN. Grisham asked Punk if his comments about part-time wrestlers taking over the spotlight from full-time Superstars in the WWE is similar to him coming into the UFC with a 0-0 record and taking some publicity away from other fighters.
"The irony of the situation is certainly not lost on me and I accept all the responsibility in the world for that," Punk told Grisham, according to Wrestlingheadlines.com. "But there's also so many differences. UFC employs thousands of fighters. I look at it more as I'm not taking a spot away from somebody, I'm allowing somebody to gain that spot because whoever fights me, they're going to make a nice chunk of change I like to think. I think that's a good opportunity for someone else too. There's a myriad of other differences and if I wasn't willing to put in the work and actually train and just fight tomorrow, I could see the parallels more."
Punk walked out on the WWE last January on the night after the Royal Rumble and hasn't been back since.
He later revealed on Colt Cabana's Art of Wrestling podcast that he left because he suffered a concussion and he was frustrated that the WWE wanted him to continue to work hurt as they asked him to do in the past. He was also frustrated with being "creatively stifled" by the organization.
Punk announced last month at UFC 181 in Las Vegas that he has signed a deal with UFC and he is expected to fight later on this year.
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