While both WWE and UFC fans alike have been wondering how CM Punk’s training as a UFC fighter has been going, we finally have our first substantiated update.
Two months after his training commenced at Roufusport in Milwaukee, Phil Brooks’ coach, Duke Roufus, says that the wrestler formerly known as ‘CM Punk’ is making a nice transition.
“He’s putting his work in, he shows up every day,” the 45-year old Roufus said on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “He has a great attitude. He didn’t become successful in the WWE by accident. It’s because he was a worker and he was a value to the organization, not only in the front as a face, but in who he is. People get behind people that are easy to work with, and he’s so easy to work with. It’s awesome.
Roufus said that Brooks will undoubtedly be more of a puncher in the UFC.
“That being said, he came in with Gracie jiu-jitsu. The natural thing he’s good at, which makes me happy, is striking. He’s a natural striker. When he did a scrimmage last week, he was pretty comfortable in the fire. He didn’t freak out, he didn’t panic. That’s what I’m looking for in new fighters. It’s not necessarily skill. You can teach skill, but you can’t teach will. Are they going to run and break during a fight, or are they going to get in there and survive the fire? And that’s what I was impressed with. I think in time, all his skills are going to advance, but if he has the mindset and the will, he’s going to do great.”
That said, it appears we are still a year away from seeing Brooks on a UFC card.
“I would like a year, honestly,” Roufus said. “Because I want him to be the best product for himself, for the organization, and for the industry. I mean, I want him to go out there and put on a great fight and do great things. Again, the value…his fans are amazing. I just think that his fans…his fans are just going to elevate out sport to a whole new level. MMA is big, but we can always get bigger, and I’m a firm believer that high tide raises all ships.”
