In between his runs with WWE and AEW, CM Punk had an unsuccessful spell with UFC. However, it’s known he was well-paid for his fights, and now it’s been confirmed via newly unsealed UFC lawsuit documents that the pro-wrestler-turned-MMA fighter wasn’t paid $500,000 as initially thought, but a staggering $1,042,736 for his 2016 submission defeat to Mickey Gall.
This information was made publicly available as part of a class action lawsuit being brought against the MMA promotion. It’s also been revealed that current WWE star Brock Lesnar made $3,000,000 for his fight with Alistair Overeem and $8,000,000 vs. Mark Hunt. Additionaly, Ronda Rousey was paid over $4,000,000 for her fight with Holly Holm and $4,879,766 vs. Amanda Nunes.
Following Punk’s debut loss to Gall, he would go on to compete one further time in UFC, in 2018, against Mike Jackson but was defeated easily via unanimous decision. Yet, the result was later overturned, and the bout was declared a no-contest after Jackson failed a drug test. At the time of the fight, some experts said Jackson dragged the fight out rather than finishing Punk, and Dana White, President of the UFC, declared both men were done fighting for the promotion.
