Was CM Punk's transition to UFC really unprecedented in pro sports?

R

RexChapmanFan

Green Belt
@Green
Joined
Apr 15, 2014
Messages
1,006
Reaction score
0
You hear a lot of claims that CM Punk didn't deserve to be in the UFC, as he had no fighting background, etc. and is just a celebrity using his celebrity status as leverage to break into elite MMA.

But it seems false that this kind of thing is unheard of in pro sports. Brock Lesnar got a try-out with the Minnesota Vikings even though he never played elite amateur/college football (you could say that's different since he never played in a real NFL game, but even getting an NFL tryout is a huge deal and could be seen as 'taking a spot' from another candidate). Bo Jackson, I believe, was drafted by a pro basketball team (maybe not NBA, but another pro league at the time) even though he was a football and baseball player only. Michael Jordan played minor league baseball even though he didn't belong there. How about Mark Gastineau in boxing? James Toney had less MMA experience than CM Punk when fought Randy Couture. I'm sure there are other examples.

I'm not defending CM Punk's being allowed a UFC fight, but you can't really argue that pro sports is totally devoid of such experiments. Maybe CM Punk is different because these other examples involved elite athletes expanding into new (for them) sports. But that argument overlooks that athleticism doesn't translate into being good at all sports, hence here were still huge unknowns.

The UFC may be getting a slightly bad rap here.
 
with all the examples you gave, CM Punk stands out as the worst case doesn't it
 
The people you cited are freak athletes. CM Punk is a dude who was popular because he wasnt an athlete
 
RexChapmanFan said:
You hear a lot of claims that CM Punk didn't deserve to be in the UFC, as he had no fighting background, etc. and is just a celebrity using his celebrity status as leverage to break into elite MMA.

But it seems false that this kind of thing is unheard of in pro sports. Brock Lesnar got a try-out with the Minnesota Vikings even though he never played elite amateur/college football (you could say that's different since he never played in a real NFL game, but even getting an NFL tryout is a huge deal and could be seen as 'taking a spot' from another candidate). Bo Jackson, I believe, was drafted by a pro basketball team (maybe not NBA, but another pro league at the time) even though he was a football and baseball player only. Michael Jordan played minor league baseball even though he didn't belong there. How about Mark Gastineau in boxing? James Toney had less MMA experience than CM Punk when fought Randy Couture. I'm sure there are other examples.

I'm not defending CM Punk's being allowed a UFC fight, but you can't really argue that pro sports is totally devoid of such experiments. Maybe CM Punk is different because these other examples involved elite athletes expanding into new (for them) sports. But that argument overlooks that athleticism doesn't translate into being good at all sports, hence here were still huge unknowns.

The UFC may be getting a slightly bad rap here.
Click to expand...


what does CM Punk have a base in? What is he good at?
 
RexChapmanFan said:
But not unprecedented.
Click to expand...
@headkicktoleg got it right, at least the other people you mentioned were athletes. unprecedented as CM Punk isn't an athlete. he needs to be athletic to perform, that's true, but unless you're calling every stunt man, circus clown and magician an athlete, then that CM Punk is not.
 
This is real fighting, not sports. Het one shot. It was more.on par with throwing the first pitch
 
A cameo is not transition. Transition implies he is going to have another three fights.
 
RexChapmanFan said:
You hear a lot of claims that CM Punk didn't deserve to be in the UFC, as he had no fighting background, etc. and is just a celebrity using his celebrity status as leverage to break into elite MMA.

But it seems false that this kind of thing is unheard of in pro sports. Brock Lesnar got a try-out with the Minnesota Vikings even though he never played elite amateur/college football (you could say that's different since he never played in a real NFL game, but even getting an NFL tryout is a huge deal and could be seen as 'taking a spot' from another candidate). Bo Jackson, I believe, was drafted by a pro basketball team (maybe not NBA, but another pro league at the time) even though he was a football and baseball player only. Michael Jordan played minor league baseball even though he didn't belong there. How about Mark Gastineau in boxing? James Toney had less MMA experience than CM Punk when fought Randy Couture. I'm sure there are other examples.

I'm not defending CM Punk's being allowed a UFC fight, but you can't really argue that pro sports is totally devoid of such experiments. Maybe CM Punk is different because these other examples involved elite athletes expanding into new (for them) sports. But that argument overlooks that athleticism doesn't translate into being good at all sports, hence here were still huge unknowns.

The UFC may be getting a slightly bad rap here.
Click to expand...


There's a difference that you are failing to address in all of your idiotic examples. All of those guys were professional athletes and qualified for what they earned. Hell, Lesnar nearly made the Vikings - it's obvious he qualified for his tryout.

CM Punk has no athletic credentials or fighting experience and was given a free ride to the top. Not some alternative half-ass organization like you claim for Bo Jackson, but the actual top of the ladder in the UFC.

That's what is ridiculous about it. If he was some star NFL DE, then I could say maybe after two years of training he might surprise some people against some bum who may have only trained 5. Still would probably lose, but at least it would be closer.

Punk isn't an athlete. Fake wrestlers aren't athletes anymore than somebody that lifts weights and jogs is an athlete. They aren't competitors, and so you have a guy that has ZERO experience AND has ZERO proven athletic ability.

That's a recipe for disaster amplified even further considering the sport is fighting, and from what I recall, there hasn't been a shitshow like it any sport, ever.
 
NotoriousMillions said:
That's a recipe for disaster amplified even further considering the sport is fighting, and from what I recall, there hasn't been a shitshow like it any sport, ever.
Click to expand...

I agree with your general point, however it has happened in the past in Pride. They had several people with virtually no experience in there...





Takayama at least had a chance since Don was more than willing to stand and bang. However all the examples are horrific, as the guys all could've been seriously hurt.
 
It is what it is. Punk showed up & payed the bills for the UFC & now they are in a better place to pay the rest of the roster. Whether they will or not is another subject... but guaranteed a struggling UFC won't be dishing out raises.
 
RexChapmanFan said:
You hear a lot of claims that CM Punk didn't deserve to be in the UFC, as he had no fighting background, etc. and is just a celebrity using his celebrity status as leverage to break into elite MMA.

But it seems false that this kind of thing is unheard of in pro sports. Brock Lesnar got a try-out with the Minnesota Vikings even though he never played elite amateur/college football (you could say that's different since he never played in a real NFL game.......
Click to expand...
Lesnar has: 4.7 40yard dash, 35in vertical, 10ft broad jump. He's not just some celebrity like CMPunk with a 500k entitlement mentality.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2008/1/18/172720/885
 
RexChapmanFan said:
You hear a lot of claims that CM Punk didn't deserve to be in the UFC, as he had no fighting background, etc. and is just a celebrity using his celebrity status as leverage to break into elite MMA.

But it seems false that this kind of thing is unheard of in pro sports. Brock Lesnar got a try-out with the Minnesota Vikings even though he never played elite amateur/college football (you could say that's different since he never played in a real NFL game, but even getting an NFL tryout is a huge deal and could be seen as 'taking a spot' from another candidate). Bo Jackson, I believe, was drafted by a pro basketball team (maybe not NBA, but another pro league at the time) even though he was a football and baseball player only. Michael Jordan played minor league baseball even though he didn't belong there. How about Mark Gastineau in boxing? James Toney had less MMA experience than CM Punk when fought Randy Couture. I'm sure there are other examples.

I'm not defending CM Punk's being allowed a UFC fight, but you can't really argue that pro sports is totally devoid of such experiments. Maybe CM Punk is different because these other examples involved elite athletes expanding into new (for them) sports. But that argument overlooks that athleticism doesn't translate into being good at all sports, hence here were still huge unknowns.

The UFC may be getting a slightly bad rap here.
Click to expand...
maybe in real fake sports.
 
The UFC isn't a pro sport
 
RexChapmanFan said:
I'm not defending CM Punk's being allowed a UFC fight, but you can't really argue that pro sports is totally devoid of such experiments. Maybe CM Punk is different because these other examples involved elite athletes expanding into new (for them) sports. But that argument overlooks that athleticism doesn't translate into being good at all sports, hence here were still huge unknowns.

The UFC may be getting a slightly bad rap here.
Click to expand...


UFC doesn't operate like any other pro sport. They make up the rules for giving title shots(Hendo vs Bisping for example), they take away title shots on whim(Machida lost his promised title shot after beating Bader, Tate lost her title shot to Holm..etc), they done crazy shit like have an old Royce Gracie fight Matt Hughes when he was the best WW on the planet(Hughes killed him like expected), they had an over the hill boxer come in and fight an exworld champ like Couture.
 
BBMN said:
I agree with your general point, however it has happened in the past in Pride. They had several people with virtually no experience in there...





Takayama at least had a chance since Don was more than willing to stand and bang. However all the examples are horrific, as the guys all could've been seriously hurt.
Click to expand...


Pride was a fucking circus. I wouldn't consider what they were doing, especially back then as anything close to professional.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
1,262,922
Messages
57,196,228
Members
175,577
Latest member
Loser

Share this page

Back
Top