UFC boss Dana White has revealed fighters went “crazy” after discovering how much WWE icon CM Punk was paid for stepping into the octagon.
Punk, real name Philip Jack Brooks, made his UFC debut in 2016, losing by first-round submission to Mickey Gall.
Dana White received criticism from other fighters for paying CM Punk such a huge sumGetty
WWE legend Punk lost both of his professional MMA fightsAP:Associated Press
His second and final MMA contest came two years later against Mike Jackson as he lost by unanimous decision – before the result was later changed to a no contest after his opponent tested positive for marijuana.
But while his legacy in the octagon left a lot to be desired, his profile meant he received a fixed payment of around £400,000 for his debut against Gall.
And MMA Fighting claim various additional bonuses from the fight led to him taking home roughly £800,000.
Now footage has emerged of UFC chief White discussing the backlash he received from other fighters after they learned of Punk’s huge purse.
White said: “We had some guy that was – that was paid a certain amount of money and never – oh, the professional wrestler that we brought in. Not Brock [Lesnar], the other one.”
To which an attorney questioning White replied: “CM Punk?”
Before White added: “Oh, yeah. People went crazy when they saw what he got paid. Even the women.”
After Punk’s defeat to Gall, then-UFC bantamweight Cat Zingano tweeted: “CM Punk made $500k on his entry fight while the rest of us pay to fight? Y’all should be ashamed UFC.”
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GettyPunk’s loss to Mike Jackson was later changed to a no contest[/caption]
And ex-lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos added: “Nothing against CM Punk make half million for his MMA debut but I think champs should be [making] that too, people who dedicated [an] entire life.”
It is understood Punk’s debut show – UFC 203 – made around £21m, with the WWE legend taking home four per cent of the profits.
Punk, a five-time WWE champion, spent three years in retirement following his UFC defeats.
In 2021, he signed a deal with WWE’s rivals All Elite Wrestling and spent two years with the organisation.
He left back in September and returned to WWE two months later after a nine-year hiatus from the company.
Punk has confirmed he will participate in the Royal Rumble match later this month.