Ben Askren Ben Askren was backstage at UFC 181 when he heard the news. As he was sitting in the locker room of Roufusport teammate and UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, the TV monitor showed the UFC’s newest acquisition, former pro wrestler Phil “ CM Punk ” Brooks, who, at 36, has no MMA fights to his credit and little more than some recreational jiu-jitsu experience and a huge fan base to recommend him for the job. For Askren – who the UFC opted not to sign after he finished his contract with Bellator, where he reigned as the unbeaten welterweight champ for three years – this new development was equal parts confusing and surprising. “Everyone in the locker room just thought it was strange,” Askren told MMAjunkie. “Obviously, if you’re on Twitter you heard rumors about it prior to this, but for it to actually happen was a shock, because the UFC is the organization that claims to promote the best fights in the world. Here they signed a guy who not only has no MMA fights but has no real combat-sports background at all
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Askren calls UFC’s CM Punk signing ‘strange,’ but it could be a blessing in disguise – MMA Junkie