Former WWE champion CM Punk was last week signed by the UFC. The news shocked a lot of MMA fans as he has no MMA record, no prior martial arts background although at 35 years old, he’s been training at the Gracie Academy for the past few years. He’s still a white belt in BJJ, but apparently only because he refuses belt promotions.
UFC fighter & BJJ black belt Cole ‘Magrinho’ Miller says that CM Punk’s ground game is actually at a very high level, so much so that he is better on the ground than 50% of UFC fighters.
CM Punk trains with Ryron and Rener Gracie
Cole Miller trains at the American Top Team academy in Coconut Creek, Florida under BJJ legend Ricardo Liborio, whom he received blue through brown belts in BJJ. Miller is a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Black Belt under Marcos “Parrumpinha” Da Matta who frequently corners him in his UFC fights.
Cole Miller told Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting about his opinion on CM Punk’s fighting skills:
“This guy doesn’t just have a chance,”. “He’s gonna kick somebody’s ass.”
“I think he’ll do very well. I don’t think he’s trying to make a 10-year career out of this. But he’s going to shake things up, whoop some ass and prove a lot of people wrong. I expect him to do very well against whoever they put up against him.”
“I think most MMA fighters don’t have any kind of ground. Most of them aren’t good at all. Even in the UFC. There are plenty of exceptions, but when I say most, I mean more than 50 percent are nothing more than OK blue belts on the ground. I would rate CM Punk definitely above that.”
Miller on online critics of CM Punk:
“So what?” he said. “Get over it. The UFC is a business and I guarantee it’s definitely into protecting its brand and business. If you think they would sign somebody that’s gonna go in there and suck and is not skilled, you’re crazy. When did you see somebody in the UFC that completely sucked? Never.”
“It’s a hating society. People come out of their shell and s— on whoever the first chance they get. People want to write that pro wrestling is fake. Pro wrestling is not fake. It’s pre-determined. The guys at the highest level have to have an indomitable spirit.”
“This guy has the perseverance it takes. He’s been through the fire. Most people are gonna break training for their first MMA fight and realize they don’t have to. This guy has been through the gauntlet, so to speak.”
“You think someone like him is going to just make a mockery of themselves in another area? This guy was the best wrestler in the world. He’s not gonna go into the UFC to lose, I promise you.”
