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CM Punk Acknowledges UFC Champion Belal Muhammad on WWE Raw
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    CM Punk Acknowledges UFC Champion Belal Muhammad on WWE Raw

    Belal Muhammad received quite the notable shout-out from a former teammate on Monday night.

    CM Punk congratulated the new UFC welterweight champion for his recent UFC 304 victory over Leon Edwards when the professional wrestling superstar addressed the crowd at Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena during WWE Raw.

    “I just want to take a real quick minute to shout-out, give some flowers to my good friend, my teammate, my brother, Belal Muhammad,” he said. “He won the UFC welterweight title. It’s been a busy week, I didn’t forget. Congratulations. I love seeing good things happen to good people. I love watching hard work pay off.”

    Muhammad posted, “Love you my brother,” in response.

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    Both are from Chicago and both used to train at Roufusport MMA Academy with Duke Roufus in Milwaukee, the same gym that produced former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and his brother Sergio, a former Bellator champion.  

    The WWE superstar, whose given name is Phil Brooks, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt who favoured a grappling style when he competed twice in the UFC during his brief venture into mixed martial arts.

    He lost his debut to Mickey Gall at UFC 203 in 2016 and lost to Mike Jackson in 2018 in his second and final fight — a result that was later officially changed to a no-contest after Jackson failed a drug test for marijuana.

    CM Punk, 45, joined the likes of Brock Lesnar, Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn as athletes to both compete in the UFC and perform in the WWE. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler later joined that group, too.

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    Former WWE wrestler turned UFC fighter CM Punk made a surprise appearance on WWE Raw recently, and fans were buzzing about his acknowledgment of UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.

    During his segment on the show, Punk took a moment to give a shoutout to Muhammad, praising him for his recent victory and impressive performance in the Octagon. This gesture not only showed Punk’s support for his fellow fighter but also highlighted the crossover between the worlds of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.

    Muhammad, who has been making waves in the UFC with his exciting fighting style and charismatic personality, was thrilled to receive recognition from someone as well-known as CM Punk. The two athletes share a mutual respect for each other’s craft and have bonded over their shared experiences in combat sports.

    This interaction between Punk and Muhammad serves as a reminder of the close-knit community that exists within the world of combat sports. Despite competing in different arenas, these athletes often come together to support and uplift one another, creating a sense of camaraderie that transcends boundaries.

    As fans eagerly await Punk’s next move in the UFC and Muhammad’s upcoming title defense, it’s clear that their paths will continue to intersect in the future. Whether it’s through friendly gestures like this one on WWE Raw or through their performances in the cage, these two fighters are sure to leave a lasting impact on the world of combat sports.