It’s been more than three years since Phil “CM Punk” Brooks stepped foot inside a UFC cage.
For the duration of his absence from MMA competition, everyone – Punk included – thought his record stood at no wins with two losses. As it turns out, that’s not the case.
MMA Junkie learned through a Freedom of Information Act request and subsequent confirmation from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation that Punk’s unanimous decision loss to Mike Jackson at UFC 225 has been overturned to a no contest.
The change in result to the June 2018 fight, which wasn’t reported publicly until now, stems from Jackson testing positive for marijuana on fight night. On June 9, 2018, the night of UFC 225, Jackson tested positive for “tetrahydrocannabinol due to marijuana,” according to a commission disciplinary document obtained by MMA Junkie. Jackson’s discipline was finalized in October 2018 with all parties’ signatures.
As a result of his positive test, Jackson’s win was overturned and he was suspended three months retroactive to the positive test. It’s unknown if Jackson was handed any further discipline such as a fine; the public disciplinary action document alludes to the possibility of further discipline.
“The official result of a full contact martial arts bout can be changed to a ‘no contest’ as an outcome of an adverse post-bout disciplinary finding against a contestant,” Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation public information officer Chris Slaby told MMA Junkie in a written statement on Wednesday. “As detailed in the consent order provided, Mr. Jackson tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol due to marijuana following the June 9, 2018 UFC event at the United Center in Chicago.”
Prior to UFC 225, fighters received a memo weeks in advance warning them about Illinois’ strict marijuana policy.
“Because of Illinois’ no tolerance policy for marijuana, we recommend that marijuana use be discontinued for anyone participating on the UFC 225 card between now and the event,” the memo read (per MMA Weekly).
At the time of publication, neither Punk nor Jackson has returned request for comment. Jackson and Punk’s records both reflect a “no contest” according to the official ABC record database.
Jackson, 36, has not competed since UFC 225, though he remains on the promotion’s roster and was briefly linked to a fight against Irish prospect Dean Barry in early 2021.
Meanwhile, Punk, 42, has remained in the public eye of MMA fans as a cageside commentator for Cage Fury Fighting Championships, which streams on UFC Fight Pass.
CM Punk’s UFC 225 loss overturned due to Mike Jackson’s positive marijuana test