CM Punk Teammate Ben Askren Says Punk Obviously "Has A Long Way To Go," Talks Past Criticism Of Punk

ONE Welterweight Champion Ben Askren recently appeared on Submission Radio and discussed teammate CM Punk's progress in MMA. Below are a couple of highlights:

CM Punk's progress thus far as a fighter:

"You know what, he's very disciplined, he's very dedicated, and he works really hard. So it's a pleasure having him in the gym, and obviously he's got a long way to go because he started out of nowhere, right? Being a professional wrestler he didn't really have a background coming into mixed martial arts. So he is getting a lot better, but he's still got a ways to go."

Ben tweets when CM Punk was signed to the UFC, and if Ben's thoughts have changed about Punk now that Punk trains with him:

"Well those were my honest thoughts about it, and I think those thoughts don't really change; and that's not really a criticism of CM Punk, that was a criticism of the UFC and what they're doing. That being said, CM Punk he had a great opportunity to do something that he wanted to do and it worked out really well for him, and now he gets to compete at something he wants to do. So for him it's all good, but you know my jokes stand and I stand behind those statements still."