Combined martial arts (MMA) {and professional} wrestling have been synonymous with one another, to an extent, all through every’s existence.
There have been numerous crossovers between athletes in both profession through the years. One of the crucial notorious got here from former World Wrestling Leisure (WWE) champion, Phil “CM Punk” Brooks, who debuted in Final Preventing Championship (UFC) in 2016.
Regardless of his lack of success, Brooks wouldn’t change a factor about how his two fights within the Octagon went (0-1, 1 no contest). In the end, the “Chick Magnet” believes the game of combating and sports activities leisure, together with the contributors, want one another.
“MMA as we at present understand it wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for skilled wrestling,” Brooks mentioned on an ESPN UFC 300 preview present. “Conversely, a enjoyable flip facet of the coin is I do know so many individuals that if MMA was a viable choice like it’s immediately, to make a dwelling, receives a commission, by no means would have gotten into skilled wrestling.
“A man like Ken Shamrock was a professional wrestler, possibly earlier than he was a fighter, proper?” he continued. “Ken went the place the cash was on the time. Take a look at him now. A man like Kurt Angle, I have a look at. Kurt by no means would have been knowledgeable wrestler. Kurt would have been scouted and virtually drafted into MMA. A brilliant health club would have discovered him.”
Coincidentally, UFC and WWE are actually underneath the identical roof in 2024 due to TKO Group Holdings, Inc. Cross-promotional efforts haven’t come too abundantly because the merger, however we’ve seen some glimpses of collaboration as not too long ago as UFC Light-weight contender, Michael Chandler, chopping a promo on Monday Night time Uncooked.
As Punk watches immediately’s MMA stars from his spot again in WWE, he believes there’d be a number of who’d be working alongside him had they no different choice.
“Return to Bo Nickal, if MMA didn’t exist immediately, have a look at all these guys that might be professional wrestlers,” Brooks mentioned. “I’m useless severe. As human beings, it’s in our DNA. Preventing is in our DNA. To me, blended martial arts is the final word check which you can put your self by means of.”
