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UFC fighters express shock and frustration at CM Punk's hefty paycheck
UFC President Dana White recently revealed that fighters were "crazy" after learning the amount WWE icon CM Punk was paid for his appearances in the octagon. Punk, whose real name is Philip Jack Brooks, made his UFC debut in 2016 and went on to lose both of his professional MMA fights. Despite his lackluster performance, Punk received a fixed payment of approximately £400,000 for his debut fight, with additional bonuses bringing his total earnings to around £800,000, according to MMA Fighting.
Backlash from fellow fighters
White recounted the backlash he received from other fighters when they discovered Punk's huge payday. In an interview, he mentioned a "professional wrestler" who was paid a significant amount but wasn't Brock Lesnar. When an attorney suggested CM Punk's name, White confirmed and added, "Oh, yeah. People went crazy when they saw what he got paid. Even the women."
Discontent and calls for equality
Following Punk's defeat to Mickey Gall, then-UFC bantamweight Cat Zingano took to Twitter to express her frustration, stating, "CM Punk made $500k on his entry fight while the rest of us pay to fight? Y’all should be ashamed UFC." Former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos echoed the sentiment, saying, "Nothing against CM Punk making half a million for his MMA debut, but I think champs should be making that too, people who dedicated their entire lives."
The financial impact and Punk's career moves
Punk's debut show, UFC 203, reportedly generated around £21m, with the wrestling legend earning four percent of the profits. Following his MMA defeats, Punk spent three years in retirement before signing with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2021. However, he returned to WWE after a nine-year hiatus in September and is set to participate in the Royal Rumble match later this month.
It seems that CM Punk's massive payday continues to be a topic of discussion within the UFC, with fighters expressing their discontent and calling for greater financial equality within the sport.
