CM Punk Talks Signing With UFC, Fan Reaction, His Training Camp, Chael Sonnen

CM Punk rocked both the wrestling and MMA worlds with the announcement that he'd be joining the UFC on a multi-fight contract. Punk made the announcement at UFC 181, with his first fight coming in 2015. At the UFC 181 post-fight press conference, Punk gave more details about the move.

Punk said that his WWE deal was settled October 22nd, which is when he was free to sign wherever he wanted. The deal had been in the works for a while. He said the decision to sign was an easy one.

It was also revealed that CM Punk was the "major announcement" planned for last month's The Time Is Now press conference in which the UFC produced. The deal wasn't signed in time and was delayed until UFC 181.

Regarding fan response to the move, Punk said "I"m staying the f*ck off Twitter. Staying away from the negativity for now. I'm coming into the world's biggest fighting organization with an 0-0 record," Punk said. "I get it. ... Before I am done, everyone will respect me."

The move has drawn comparisons to former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen, who infamously used professional wrestling promo tactics in order to pump up his fights. In response to those comparisons, Punk said "I'd like to think Chael was emulating me most of his career." Punk also was compared to former UFC champion Brock Lesnar, and said "If someone is going to compare me to Brock Lesnar, I'll take that."

Punk will seek out a training camp, and says he won't cherry pick his training partners, adding "Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do something. Choose a path and work towards it to the best of your abilities." He told reporters that the big business is his first fight, and would have lost luster had he fought elsewhere.

Punk closed the interview by thanking the UFC 181 fighters for allowing him to answer questions before they came out.