New 45-minute interview with Punk

[UTK]

[Circled Square]

I think Punk's a shitstain but he's a good talker and I like listening to his interviews.

[VaderBomb]

I can't wait to listen to this tomorrow morning.

[prophet]

I like Ariel's idea of putting him on the (rumored) January 2nd card in Vegas - you'd have McGregor/Aldo main-eventing, potentially another title fight co-headlining (Rousey-Tate 3?) and Punk debuting all on the same card. Whatever card he debuts on he's going to have a fuck-ton of hype/attention but you put him on the same bill as McGregor/Aldo and it won't nearly be as intense plus he'd help them go for the all-time record for PPV buys again.

If this is going to be a one and done thing for the UFC they might as well have him fight Cathal Pendred who is fucking terrible but benefit from the Irish crowd and a win.

[Hanley!]

So I've listened to a few of these interviews with Punk, because I've always found him a compelling interview subject and personality in general. But after listening to a few interviews since he joined the UFC, I figured something out: he's not an entertaining interview subject outside of the WWE.

People gravitated towards Punk during his wrestling days because he was outspoken, unafraid to express a strong opinion and didn't always tow the company line. He didn't mince his words and had a way of cutting through the bullshit. That's what made him likable.

Every interview I've heard with him since he joined UFC (except for the Cabana podcasts), he's talked on and on while actually saying very little. His interviews are full of meaningless platitudes and non-opinions. He almost never gives a straight answer to any question. Maybe he feels he has to pay his dues more before he can become outspoken about the UFC, but it really isn't what I would have expected from Punk a year ago.

Maybe he's only entertaining when he's not happy.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Interesting from Hanley but for me it's the opposite. I kinda didn't enjoy his WWE interviews at times because it came off like a dick but understand that's how he was even in interviews when it wasn't kayfabe.

But I've really come across to rooting for him in the UFC because in these interviews, he comes across as normal which maybe surprises people who expect someone brash and outlandish. It makes wanting him to do well more sincere as well for me. Also appreciated the hard time he had during his end of the WWE career and the podcast with Colt changed my view on him and kinda deserves credit for leaving WWE and pushing himself in UFC when not alot of wrestlers, no matter how much they talk casually of fighting in the UFC, would probably make that move.

[VaderBomb]

I haven't had the chance to watch this interview yet but in response to Hanley's post, I think Punk's being humble because he has zero experience fighting professionally. People (especially non wrestling fans and/or die-hard MMA fans) would turn on him real fast if he started acting all cocky like Chael Sonnen (who I adore, but he's shown to be a badass fighter).

In UFC, you have to earn the right to be cocky, otherwise you're just going to get your ass kicked.