CM PUNK has responded to MMA newcomer Jack Swagger, who claimed the UFC flop “didn't like getting hit in face”. Ex-wrestlers CM Punk and Swagger formerly worked for WWE, however, they both find themselves now residing in the sport of MMA. 5 Former WWE star Jack Swagger claimed CM Punk was afraid of getting hit in the face Credit: AP:Associated Press 5 Jack Swagger prepares to make his Bellator debut tonight at heavyweight Credit: Getty - Contributor Former WWE champion CM Punk announced in 2014 that would be fighting for the UFC, though he lost his opening two fights against Mickey Gall and Mike Jackson. While Swagger, real name Jake Hagger, has just signed for Bellator and makes his MMA debut tonight. Speaking to media before his debut, Hagger suggested CM Punk and former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar did not like getting hit in the face. Hagger said: “I’m very lucky that it’s 2019 and I don’t have to have video cassettes of all the promotions to get this. “I can just go on YouTube, and see the footage, and get the film, and have the research, and get better. 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You see that with Brock, you see that with Punk, they didn’t want to get punched in the face. “I needed it, I needed to learn how to react to it and see how my body is gonna have the instincts to react in that moment. “That’s the main things I took from it, and at the same time, those other guys, they shied away from their pro wrestling background, where, I’m embracing it. “This is who I am and, dude, I love it, ya know? What’s not to like?” 5 Jack Swagger claimed former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was afraid of taking a punch Credit: Getty - Contributor 5 CM Punk has not confirmed if he will continue his career as an MMA fighter Credit: Getty - Contributor The winless CM Punk responded to the dig as he suggested Hagger should also refrain from liking being on the end of a punch - while the 40-year-old claimed he is rooting for his former WWE colleague. CM Punk said: “You shouldn’t either. Good skill this weekend, pulling for you.”<doc-sep>In a pretty perfectly timed night for fans of scripted fights and the people who at least sometimes perform in them, Jake “Jack Swagger” Hager’s pro MMA debut at Bellator 214 happened just moments after WWE NXT TakeOver: Phoenix when off the air. It was good timing, too, both because it meant fans got to see R-Truth rap Hager to the cage for his fight against J.W. Kiser, but also because the fight was over pretty fast. The former WWE World Heavyweight champ won by submission at 2:09 of the first round with an arm-triangle choke. That also means, even if they wanted to watch the black-and-yellow brand do their thing, Swagger’s old co-workers in the WWE locker room could watch his fight. They did, and they liked what they saw. killer debut @RealJackSwagger way to dominate #Bellator214 (especially after having to follow @RonKillings crushing it) — Nic Nemeth (@HEELZiggler) January 27, 2019 Congrats @RealJackSwagger ! He goes hard for endurance!!! — Rusev (@RusevBUL) January 27, 2019 Some of the taped themselves watching their boy get a W: Everyone huddled around a tiny iPad to watch @RealJackSwagger win his debut was a great sight!! Way to go — TJ Wilson (@TJWilson) January 27, 2019 Zeb Colter’s old charge doesn’t seem ready to give up his old job just yet. Even though he says he plans to spend the next decade fighting for Bellator, he also dropped a line about “Sometimes, to convince Vince, you have to con Vince, baby!” - whatever that means. And then there’s this: Swagger is undefeated in MMA, 1-0, and he celebrated by screaming WE THE PEOPLE pic.twitter.com/wnfE8DtLDm — Henry T. Casey (@henrytcasey) January 27, 2019 The Soaring Eagle would be proud.<doc-sep>It was a good night for Jake Hager. The former WWE wrestler, who went by Jack Swagger, won his mixed martial arts debut against J.W. Kiser at Bellator 214. The event aired live on the Paramount Network and DAZN. As promised, he was walked out to the Bellator cage by current WWE superstar R-Truth. The bout began with Hager going for a takedown and he used his wrestling to get Kiser down within the first minute. He immediately went for an arm triangle and then won by submission. A picture perfect start to his career. Did you enjoy Jack Swagger’s MMA debut? Let us know in the comments below. RELATED: Big Brawl Including Adam Cole & Velveteen Dream Takes Place After NXT TakeOver (Video)<doc-sep>
Ahead of his Bellator MMA debut, Jake Hager (f/k/a Jack Swagger) is talking about the MMA careers of Brock Lesnar and CM Punk. Hager is also discussing his relationship with Roman Reigns in this interview with MMAFighting.com: Jake on the MMA careers of Brock Lesnar and CM Punk: “I’m very lucky that it’s 2019 and I can just go on YouTube and research and get better. The main thing I take away from it is that you can’t be afraid to get punched in the face in camp. You see that with Brock, you see that with Punk. I needed it. I needed to see how my body would react in that moment. Also, I think those guys shied away from their pro wrestling background. I’m embracing mine. I love it. This is who I am, what’s not to love?” Jake Hager on potentially owning the ‘Jack Swagger’ name: “We’re one and the same. You know soon, it’s gonna be one brand and hopefully, we’ll be fighting under Jack Swagger very soon in the future.” Jack Swagger on the choice to move to MMA: “For me, it was time to leave and move on to something else. Everybody knows Jack Swagger, but it was time to show people that Jake Hager’s been doing this since he was five.” CM Punk responded to the critique on his training via twitter: You shouldn’t either. Good skill this weekend, pulling for you. https://t.co/QKjgbRKYd2 — player/coach (@CMPunk) January 25, 2019 RELATED: Jake Hager Talks Training In Tampa