Former WCW Star Bill Goldberg Believes CM Punk Has a Chance in UFC
Former World Championship Wrestling star Bill Goldberg has offered an optimistic opinion on former professional wrestler CM Punk's future match in UFC.
The former WCW world heavyweight champion and main eventer Goldberg told Submission Radio in a recent interview his views on punk signing with UFC.
"I mean, I think anybody can be successful if they take the proper route prior to stepping in that cage," said Goldberg.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"I'm not going to pass judgment on anyone until I know 100 percent of their background, until I watch what they're doing. I want to see what his stand up is like."
Goldberg added that he felt the signing of the former World Wrestling Entertainment talent was "a great PR move for the UFC."
Last January, CM Punk left the WWE months in advance of his contract expiring due to issues surrounding both the company's creative direction and several accruing injuries.
That July, in an interview with CBS-19 at the AP Music Awards at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Punk stated that he had no immediate plans to return to WWE.
"Never ever! Never ever, ever!" said Punk in a theatrical tone, "they're going to go crazy about that on Twitter."
In December it was announced that Punk, real name Phil Brooks, had signed a contract with the company Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Punk was placed in the middleweight division and was expected to have a match sometime in 2015, noted Brett Okamoto of ESPN.
"This is my new career, 100 percent," CM Punk said in a statement, according to ESPN. "I'm going to go full steam ahead, all systems go after today, and it's going to be fun."
While Goldberg offered optimistic words for Punk's new venture, others including those with a professional fighting background have taken issue with the former WWE star's decision.
Matt Brown, an outspoken welterweight fighter in UFC, said on his podcast that he believes Punk made a good decision given his lack of experience in professional fights that did not have scripted, predetermined results and blows.
"I don't have a problem with the UFC doing it. What I have a problem with is CM Punk being dumb enough to think he can do it," said Brown.
"If he wants to come fight a real man, I'll be standing there. I'll fight Tarec Saffiedine on [Feb. 14] and I'm the main event, everyone will be gone. I'll fight him right after Tarec if he wants."
CM Punk is not the first pro-wrestler to go to UFC to make a career there. Brock Lesnar, a former WWE champion, had a mixed martial arts career than went from 2007 to 2011.
During that time, Lesnar scored five victories and suffered three defeats. In 2008, he won the UFC Heavyweight Championship belt against Randy Couture via TKO.
