CM Punk's UFC career is over and that's a good thing for all involved.
Punk was transported to hospital immediately after his defeat to Mike Jackson in the UFC 225 main card opener on Saturday night.
Barring one successful takedown, the former WWE superstar looked out of his element throughout the welterweight fight against Jackson, who is more accustomed to being behind the camera as a photographer and videographer.
After going to 0-2 in the UFC, Punk will not receive another shot, according to the organisation's president, Dana White.
"No, it should be a wrap," White said. "The guy [Punk] is 39 years old. I love the guy and he's the nicest guy in the world. We gave him two shots and he had a lot of heart tonight but I think he should call it a wrap."
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As for Jackson, White was furious with his display because, on several occasions, the finish looked on for 'The Truth' but he didn't display any urgency or any desire to put Punk away, which prompted a tongue-in-cheek theory from commentator Joe Rogan that Jackson had been paid off to make the bout go the full three rounds.
White insisted that Jackson's UFC career was also done, claiming that he "wouldn’t even put that kid in the Contender Series."
"Michael Jackson I’m not happy with," White added. "This guy was acting like a goofball tonight. You get this opportunity to come in and fight CM Punk, and you’re doing, like, bolo punches to the body on top. Never looked like he was trying to finish the fight ever. Looked like he could have finished the fight a few times. Never tried!
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"I don’t know what that guy did for a living before we gave him the shot, but whatever it was, he needs to go back and do that again. He’s 0-2 as far as I’m concerned.
"I got the sense that he’s a complete fucking idiot and I couldn’t wait for that fight to end and I regretted not putting that fight on Fight Pass. That’s how I felt about it."
