Cathal Pendred punks Phil Brooks, weighs in on McGregor vs Aldo

Cathal Pendred mocked UFC newcomer Phil ‘CM Punk’ Brooks via Twitter with the words “CM Punk on the pads making me look like Muhammad Ali”. Pendred, in his article for the Irish Mirror, explained that this “heavy Twitter exchange” could “lead to a real business opportunity down the line.” This may have prompted an imminent bout between the two if Pendred had not already been booked to fight Tom Breese at UFC Fight Night 76.

Additionally, Pendred branded Punk “the laughing stock of the UFC”, comparing the theatrics of wrestling, with the authenticity and credibility of MMA. The objection to Punk’s entry into the UFC, stems from the fact that, in the words of Pendred, “…no one makes their MMA debut in the UFC.”

Whereas Punk’s mixed martial arts career will commence under the UFC banner, Pendred endured a number of fights before accomplishing the credentials to join MMA’s most dominant organisation; so one can understand his grievance with the UFC’s acquisition of Punk, an MMA novice.

From Pendred’s perspective a fight with Punk would be relatively straightforward, but also an opportunity to ride the wave of interest and intrigue that a CM Punk fight would generate amongst MMA and wrestling fans alike.

The article also addressed McGregor and Aldo’s upcoming unification bout, in which Pendred utters the words all MMA fans will be envisaging –

“It’ll be another historic night…” However, his worry, shared by most with interest in the bout, “…is Aldo making it”, as an injury to a rib prevented Aldo from defending his belt at UFC 189, with speculation emerging about the extent of the damage, and hence, Pendred remains skeptical.

If on this occasion, the unification title fight does go ahead, Pendred believes it “will break all records”, and will surely hope his Irish compatriot McGregor lifts the belt, which will inevitably galvanise far more of the Irish collective into a passion and enthusiasm for MMA.