WWE/UFC News: Bobby Lashley compliments CM Punk for his UFC appearance
What's the story?
Bobby Lashley was asked about CM Punk and his transition to MMA when he spoke to Hannibal TV, and He said that he 'liked it', and complimented Punk for stepping out of his comfort zone and trying something new.
He said that he felt that more people should support those who are doing something new.
In case you didn't know...
CM Punk left professional wrestling after his bust-up with WWE, to try his hand at MMA. He trained for a long time for his first fight, which was delayed twice due to injuries he suffered while training.
He finally faced Mickey Gall in September of 2016, at UFC 203 and the fight was anticlimactic and he lost the bout via submission in two minutes and fourteen seconds. The fight had been hyped for a long time and the fans were disappointed, while others mocked Punk for the quick defeat.
The heart of the matter
Bobby Lashley was extremely supportive of CM Punk for his attempt to transition from professional wrestling to MMA. He said that Punk's willingness to try something new that was important and not the loss.
"Punk lost his first fight. He tried and they say that he's going to take another fight. I'm like, more power to you man. Go out there and fight. S**t, if you lose, it doesn't even matter."
Lashley went on to say that the loss did not matter as he still made an immense amount of money from the fight.
"Yeah, Punk got beat up in his last fight. Who cares? He made a lot of money, he trained his ass off, and he stepped into that cage."
Lashley criticised the fans and called out the 'naysayers' saying that everyone wanted to be a critic. He was insistent that if a person trains and tried their best to put on a good show, then they should be applauded and not criticised.
What's next?
Punk is training for his second MMA fight and has been reported to be motivated and ready for it. According to Punk's coach, the former WWE Superstar is close to signing his second MMA match.
Bobby Lashley may soon step out of Impact Wrestling as he revealed his wish to take on more challenges, possibly in amateur wrestling and jiu-jitsu tournaments.
Author's take
Punk's first appearance inside the octagon was obviously disappointing, but that just leaves more room for him to improve. He has been training constantly since his loss, and he will have learnt from his experience.
If he should get a second match in UFC, he will be better prepared for what is to come.