Former wrestling star CM Punk has won a court battle outside the octagon this week and wants to kickstart his stalled UFC career in his home city of Chicago.
Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, was on Wednesday (AEST) cleared of defamation and invasion of privacy in a lawsuit brought by a wrestling doctor.
It wasn't the ideal preparation for Punk's bout against compatriot Mike Jackson, on the UFC 225 card on Sunday (AEST), headed by Australian Robert Whittaker's middleweight title defence against Cuban Yoel Romero.
"I just tried to find positive ways that it impacted in. It made me more hyper-focused on the fight, believe it or not," Punk said.
"It made me more conscious of every minute of every day, to wake up and train, to take care of business in court."
A former World Wrestling Entertainment champion, 39-year-old Punk lost his only UFC fight by a first-round submission in September 2016, though Jackson also has a 0-1 record.
Punk didn't do any physical drills at the media workout on Wednesday (AEST) in the famous Chicago Theatre.
Despite having no issues "wrestling in front of thousands of people in my underwear" Punk admits he's like a 'weirdo " at training where he gets anxious at being watched.
He admits to anxiety issues outside the octagon with his faithful family mutt the best barometer.
"I think I can tell when I know I'm anxious and my wife is, because it's amplified via our dog Larry," Punk said.
"When he's freaking out, I kinda step back and go 'I've probably got to calm down and work on something.'"
Punk is part of a stacked card featuring a cluster of former world champions and a number of bouts between world ranked fighters.
Australia is well represented by Whittaker, rising world ranked heavyweight Tai Tuivasa and female featherweight and UFC debutant Megan Anderson.
All three Australians will appear on the main card being televised by Main Event.
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