CM Punk to UFC: Didn’t see this one coming

CM Punk announced Saturday night on the live UFC 181 pay-per-view that he has signed a multi-fight deal with UFC and will debut in 2015.

“My professional wrestling days are over, it’s awesome to be here,” said Punk, who will be billed as Phil “CM Punk” Brooks. “This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

The former WWE champion left that company in January, and explained in a podcast interview last month that the main reason for doing so was how WWE dealt with injuries and the grueling travel schedule.

The issue with injuries will be up to Punk’s ability to defend himself in the Octagon; the travel schedule should not be an issue with Punk likely fighting only a handful of times.

“This is my new career, 100-percent,” Punk said. “I’m going to go full steam ahead, all systems go after today, and it’s going to be fun. I have nothing but respect for everybody here at the UFC, everybody who steps in the Octagon to fight. And when it’s all said and done, when I’m finished, everybody’s going to have to respect me because I have come here to fight.”