AEW Star CM Punk Has Officially Retired From UFC And MMA

CM Punk, who is one of the most controversial, outspoken and polarizing star in all of pro wrestling, left the wrestling business back in 2014 shortly after that year’s WWE Royal Rumble PPV Event because he felt he was not treated fairly in the WWE and he had a number of medical issues he didn’t tend to. Punk then pursued his dream of competing in the UFC when he fought Mickey Gall in his debut match and lost via submission in the very first round at UFC 203 in September of 2016.

Punk’s second and final UFC fight then took place at UFC 225 in June of 2018, where he initially lost to Mike Jackson via unanimous decision, but Punk’s loss was later overturned and made into a draw and deemed a no contest due to Jackson testing positive for marijuana.

According to Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com, CM Punk has notified UFC that he has retired from mixed martial arts and that he had to inform the UFC of his decision so that he could be removed from UFC’s anti-doping program. It was also mentioned on the report that Punk was tested 6 times this past year.

Shortly after CM Punk’s UFC 225 bout against Mike Jackson, UFC President Dana White revealed that the professional wrestling star would likely never return to the UFC unless he could pick up some wins in smaller MMA promotions. Punk made his return to pro wrestling on August 20 on the First Dance special episode of Rampage in Chicago after a long 7-year hiatus. At the All Out PPV this Sunday, Punk is set to face Darby Allin in Singles action, which will be his first match since the 2014 WWE Royal Rumble.