Elayna Black Recalls Training in MMA and Competing in an Amateur Kickboxing Fight

– During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, former WWE NXT Superstar Elayna Black (aka Cora Jade) discussed her time training in MMA and competing in an amateur Muay Thai fight. Below are some highlights (via Fightful):

Elayna Black on CM Punk’s UFC fights: “I did. I was doing MMA at the time myself. It was right before I started wrestling training because no other place would train me. I was too young. ‘I’ll just do MMA for now instead.’ I did Muay Thai for a little bit. It was at the time he was doing (MMA). I don’t say I did it long enough to actually say I did it, but I did it for a little bit and he was doing it.”

On if she ever tried to attempt MMA: “I don’t remember. I feel like I was going to do something like that in general, but him being in the UFC definitely pushed me to want to do it even more. I remember watching his fight and I took it so personal when he lost. I’m crying. Why am I crying on the couch? I thought it was cool because I also did a Muay Thai bout, and I lost too.”

On bonding with Punk over her loss: “[Punk and I] talked about it maybe a few months ago. ‘Hey, did you know I did a MMA fight too right after you and we both lost?’ He’s like, ‘Hell yeah.'”