Jon Jones hopes CM Punk fights 'real opponent' so 'we can watch him get knocked out'

Phil “CM Punk” Brooks

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is doing media rounds prior to his upcoming UFC 182 title fight with Daniel Cormier. And of course, one of the sport’s major topics, the UFC’s signing of CM Punk, was broached.

A plethora of fighters have shared their opinion on the surprising signing of the former WWE superstar, which was announced earlier this month (http://mmajunkie.com/2014/12/former-wwe-wrestler-phil-cm-punk-brooks-signs-with-ufc-for-expected-2015-debut). Some are for it and have invited Punk (0-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to come train; others are against it and hope he fails miserably.

It appears Jones in amongst the latter group. He sees the value in the signing, but at the same time he deemed it “unfair” to athletes who have been training to excel in the sport for years.

Because of that, Jones wants to see the former WWE champion “knocked out” whenever he finally makes his UFC debut.

I think it’s an awesome thing for the sport, it’s going to bring a lot of publicity,” Jones told Chad Dukes on CBS D.C. radio. “I went to my first WWE match this year and the enthusiasm and emotion on the fans faces, it was like they were watching real fighting in the UFC. I do have a respect for the influence of the WWE and the passion of the fans. I found it awesome to watch for myself and the audience.

“At the same time it would be a bad thing only because every day I’m at the gym watching these kids training. These guys have no money and they’re training their tails off, giving up everything to be a fighter. Living in the gym, eating turkey and peanut butter, bare minimum to chase this dream and then a superstar like him just gets to jump into the UFC just because he knows the right people and has a name. I just think it’s unfair for the people who have been working their tails off to earn this opportunity. That’s why I really hope UFC gives him a real opponent so we can watch him get knocked out.”

It is possible that Jones’ statement toward the UFC’s signing on Punk is a form of retaliation to a backhanded Twitter post that’s more than two years old.

Punk has long claimed to live a “straight edge” lifestyle that doesn’t include the use of any drugs or alcohol. So when Jones, who was arrested for DUI in May 2012, signed an endorsement deal with Nike several months later, Punk was critical.

“Let’s reward more drunk drivers with endorsement deals! #responsibility,” Punk wrote on his official Twitter account.

Punk is expected to begin full-time MMA training beginning in January. He plans to make his UFC debut in 2015, and there’s no doubt Jones will be as curious of a spectator as everyone else.

Jones (20-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) faces Cormier (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) this Saturday at UFC 182 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

For more on UFC 182, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.