In January 2015, Punk began training under Duke Roufus at Roufusport MMA Academy. In June 2015, he moved to Milwaukee to be closer to the Roufusport gym, while still retaining his home in Chicago. Later, it was announced that Punk would compete in the welterweight division. In October 2015, Roufus announced that Punk had suffered a shoulder injury, delaying his UFC debut until the next calendar year. On February 6, 2016, it was announced that Punk would face Mickey Gall in his first professional mixed martial arts (MMA) contest. Days later, he was diagnosed with a herniated disc, and underwent surgery.
Punk’s UFC and MMA debut against Gall took place on September 10, 2016, at UFC 203. The event was held at the Quicken Loans Arena, the same venue where Punk left WWE and retired from professional wrestling. He lost via rear naked choke at 2:14 of the first round. He was paid a disclosed $500,000.
Earlier this week he earned his BJJ blue belt. Congrats CM Punk!
.@CMPunk received his BJJ blue belt from Daniel Wanderlei today. #UFC #BJJ pic.twitter.com/5Zz34tgV4m
— Niall McGrath (@niallmcgrath4) December 5, 2017
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