Speculation that departed WWE superstar CM Punk was on his way to the Octagon proved accurate Saturday, when Punk and the leading mixed martial arts organization confirmed a deal had been made.
Punk, who famously parted ways with WWE while near the top of the company’s popularity food chain, will begin fighting in 2015. He will look to compete at either middleweight or welterweight.
Enough to send WWE and UFC fans into a frenzy, the news did not sit well with one of the top mixed martial arts fighters not currently under a UFC contract.
“@ufc sign a fake wrestler, but not an Olympian who is the best WW in the world. Amateur move,” Tweeted Ben Askren, who is currently the ONE FC champion in his weight class.
The fighter and UFC–notably via organization president Dana White–have traded barbs over the years. Askren’s wrestling ability was, however, praised by UFC commentator Joe Rogan during Saturday’s UFC 181 pay-per-view.