Back in December, the UFC world was sent into a frenzy when former WWE wrestling champion Phil Brooks, better known to many as CM Punk, was officially signed at UFC 182. And whether he likes it or not, people familiar with the UFC and the WWE can't help but compare his move as a similar one to another figure, in former UFC heavyweight and current WWE heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
"I'm a friend of Brock, and what he did is absolutely remarkable; I am in no way trying to follow in his footsteps. [I]'m not thinking about anything past right now training my ass off for that first fight. …Me and Brock Lesnar are two different people. He's an animal – and I'm a smaller animal," said Punk during a Q&A interview via mmajunkie.com
With that said, it is apparent that Punk is entirely different from a body size point of view. Lesnar is freakishly built while Punk is not. But his lack in size could be offset by his skills since Punk is an avid Jiu Jitsu practitioner.
Though the odds seem to be stacked and the whole Punk signing seems more of a marketing ploy rather than to enrich the world of mixed martial arts, many are doubtful that Punk can survive in the UFC. So Punk needs all the help he can get, especially on the training side.
And one friend has stepped up to the plate, promising to mold Punk into a credible MMA fighter. His name? Duke Roufus, a former kickboxing who is now a world class trainer. And with his "magic" he believes that he can transform Brooks into a fighter just like any other aspiring individual.
Roufus will have six months to do that before Brooks is lined up for his first official match. But the question now is, would a six-month period be enough for Brooks (CM Punk) to walk through an actual punch?
