CM Punk has swapped the WWE ring for the UFC Octagon and will fight in 2015
A historic change in sports
Sunday 7 December 2014 12:50, UK
CM Punk, the former WWE Superstar, has dramatically signed a contract to fight in the UFC in 2015.
The former professional wrestling champion, who left the WWE in the summer, has no experience fighting in mixed martial arts but makes the giant leap to the world's foremost MMA organisation.
The 36-year-old is expected to make his debut in the first half of next year and will likely compete in the welterweight or middleweight divisions. No opponent has been lined up yet for what will undoubtedly be a major crossover moment in the worlds of WWE and UFC.
Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, will follow in the footsteps of Brock Lesnar who also swapped the ring for the Octagon in 2008. Lesnar ultimately won the UFC heavyweight championship largely on account of his competitive wrestling background prior to his stint in WWE, a base that Punk will not have.
Little is known about Punk's MMA training although he has made no secret of his jiu-jitsu acumen - the grappling art that forms a UFC fighter's core skillset.
