Report: UFC & Bellator Interested In CM Punk?

Source(s): TMZ Sports & The Wrestling Observer

UPDATE: There appears to be validity to rumors that former WWE star CM Punk, real name Phil Brooks, is garnering interest from the MMA world.

Twitter personality FrontRowBrian, who has broken numerous stories in the past, tweeted last week that UFC’s planned major announcement for its December 17 press conference was signing Punk. Although that specific claim has not been substantiated, there appears to be interest in the former WWE champion from UFC and its lead competitor, Spike TV’s Bellator MMA.

Regarding FrontRowBrian’s reports of negotiations between UFC and Punk, a reliable source reports that “there is smoke to that fire.” Bellator also has “significant” interest in Punk according to sources.

To add more logs to the flame, former Bellator matchmaker Sam Caplan separately noted on his “MMA Insiders” podcast that UFC and Punk have had discussions.

Punk, 36, left WWE earlier this year and was later fired by the company. According to Punk, a no-compete clause that aimed to prevent him from jumping to UFC was thrown out in a settlement with WWE, allowing him to pursue opportunities in mixed martial arts. A longtime Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, Punk has recently been training with Rener Gracie. At this time, he has not made public any intentions of competing in MMA.

Boxer James Toney is the sole precedent for someone Punk’s age or older entering the Zuffa-era UFC without any professional MMA experience. UFC did sign Brock Lesnar in 2007, but Lesnar was only 30, had one pro fight, and was an NCAA wrestling national champion.

Bellator MMA head honcho Scott Coker previously brought in retired football star Herschel Walker, then nearing 50, to Strikeforce when he headed that organization. Coker also negotiated with Dave Bautista, who later took a one-off MMA fight at age 43. Professional wrestler Bobby Lashley currently competes in Bellator’s heavyweight division and is one of the promotion’s biggest ratings draws.

ORIGINAL: TMZ Sports is stirring the CM Punk/Brock Lesnar UFC pot. The site caught up with Dana White in New York City and asked him about CM punk being free and clear of his WWE contract, to which White said, “I don’t know if he can fight or anything like that, but sure, I wouldn’t mind talking to CM Punk.”

He was also asked about Lesnar possibly jumping over and said, “If and when his deal if up with them and he wants to fight, I’m, sure he’ll call me.”

100% DIRECT LINK (TOP POST NOW) – CM Punk Negotiations With UFC (& Likely Bellator) – A PHOTO OF CM PUNK & DANA WHITE **TOGETHER** YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) IN LAS VEGAS!!!!