CM Punk signs with UFC as 36-year-old Phil Brooks leaves professional wrestling for mixed martial arts with debut in 2015

• CM Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, has joined UFC
• The 36-year-old professional wrestler admits time is against him
• Brooks: 'My professional wrestling days are over, it's awesome to be here'

Professional wrestler CM Punk has signed with UFC.

The announcement was made at UFC 181 on Saturday night, as Robbie Lawler beat Johny Hendricks in their welterweight title rematch.

CM Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, has never competed in mixed martial arts and admits time is not on his side.

Professional wrestler CM Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks (left), has signed a deal with UFC

The announcement by Brooks (left) was made at UFC 181 on Saturday night in Las Vegas

CM Punk has never competed in mixed martial arts and, at the age of 36, knows time is against him

'My professional wrestling days are over, it's awesome to be here,' said the 36-year-old. 'This is something I've wanted to do for a long time.

'I felt like it was now or never. I have a limited window most fighters don't have. I'm either here to win or get my ass kicked.'

He will make his debut next year.

UFC President Dana White told ESPN: 'He wanted to fight here. He wanted to give it a shot, so we gave him an opportunity. It's not like Brock Lesnar. We're not going to throw the kitchen sink at him. 

'Lesnar had a wrestling background. [CM Punk] is going to fight a guy who is 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, something like that.

CM Punk pictured ahead of his WWE match in 2011 but he has left professional wrestling for UFC

CM Punk takes down Mark Henry during their previous  match at the WWE Monday Night Raw Supershow

Brooks will make his UFC debut next year after leaving professional wrestling to try and crack the sport

Former professional wrestler Brooks speaks at a news conference after signing a contract with the UFC

'He's been coming to fights for a long time and after his WWE contract was up, he called me and said he wanted to give it a shot. I said, "All right. We'll give you a shot."'

There was a mixed reaction to the news with women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey tweeting: 'WHA?!?!?! @CMPunk!!?!!!!?!! #cantwait'.

But Nate Diaz responded simply: 'Why?'.

CM Punk follows in the footsteps of former WWE stars Lesnar, Dave Bautista and Bobby Lashley.

There was a mixed reaction to the news with women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey tweeting this

Nate Diaz responded 'why?' when UFC announced the news that professional wrestler Brooks had signed