CM Punk has officially started his road to the Octagon as he began his training with Roufusport in Milwaukee under the tutelage of head coach Duke Roufus and wrestling coach Ben Askren, who said the former WWE Superstar-turned-UFC fighter will not be receiving any special treatment.
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Askren, who mocked the UFC initially for signing Punk to a deal, said that he will be training with Punk and that the "Best in the World" will be treated like just another student.
"Yeah, it's just a thing where he'll be another student, more than anything else," Askren told Fox Sports. "He'll show up to class, he'll warm up, he'll be a part of the team. [UFC lightweight champion] Anthony [Pettis] doesn't get treated special. I don't get treated special. I can't be sure, but I don't think [CM Punk] will get treated special."
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Pettis, who is Punk's teammate, then posted a picture of their group together during a training session on Instagram.
"Haven't had a black eye forever, but when your training with these beasts shit happens.... @CMpunk @benaskren @twooodley @dukeroufus #squadgoingup #milwaukee #roufusport"
A photo posted by Anthony Pettis (@showtimepettis) on Jan 1, 2015 at 1:17pm PST
Punk walked out on the WWE nearly a year ago on the day after the Royal Rumble pay-per-view and he has since said the two sides will never have a working relationship again.
Punk appeared on Colt Cabana's Art of Wrestling podcast in November and revealed that he was frustrated after receiving a concussion at the Royal Rumble and being told to work through it, which Punk claimed wasn't the first time the WWE's medical staff asked him to work hurt.
The "Best in the World" was also upset over being "creatively stifled" in 2011 when he was on the rise and also throughout his WWE stint.
Punk blasted the WWE and said he received his termination papers on his wedding day to WWE Diva AJ Lee.
Vince McMahon eventually apologized for that on a WWE Network interview with WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and said he wanted to work with him again someday, but Punk seems unwilling.
Punk then announced his deal with the UFC last month at UFC 181 in Las Vegas with Lee by his side.
With the wrestling world behind him, Punk is now preparing for his first fight in the Octagon, which will come later this year.
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