CM Punk UFC Debut: Phil Brooks Says He's Better in High Pressure Situations
Former WWE superstar and current UFC fighter Phil "CM Punk" Brooks is set to find out if he will be facing Mickey Gall in his Octagon debut. Dana White has confirmed that if Gall wins over fellow UFC newcomer Michael Jackson at UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson this coming Saturday, he will become the first fighter to put his hands on CM Punk, per MMA Mania.
According to Damon Martin of FOX Sports, White found the New Jersey-based fighter during his YouTube show "Dana White: Looking for a Fight" when the 23-year-old called out Punk after winning his professional debut. The welterweight prospect then predicted that he will win against the 37-year-old newcomer in the first round.
"I finish CM Punk. I'm not sure if I knock him out or I submit him, but I think it ends and I think it ends in the first round. I'm supremely confident. I think I'm made for this fight, it's a dream opportunity," Gall said, who is training under Jim and Dan Miller.
Punk revealed in an interview with the Associated Press last January that he is hoping to make his UFC debut on UFC 200 in July as many expected. He said that UFC 200 is a big event and he cares for it. He added that he has spoken with Dana White about his desire to make his debut at the July pay-per-view, insisting that it is the smarter business decision for both him and the company.
The Chicago native recently talked to FOX Sports and he was asked why he would want to make his MMA debut at UFC 200. The event is considered the biggest pay-per-view card in the history of the UFC.
"I just do better in high-pressure situations and it's weird for me to comment on it because I can't understand people being freaked out by that. Just because that's been my life, I don't see the big deal in it but it might wind up being a factor," Brooks said.
"They talk about first fight jitters or Octagon shock or whatever they want to call it. That might happen to me. It might happen to them 10 fold. We'll see," he added.
The 37-year-old MMA newcomer is training under Duke Roufus of Roufusports in Milwaukee, where former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and welterweight contender Tyron Woodley trains. He also told the Associated Press that he had been training under NHL's New Jersey Devils strength and conditioning coach Joe Lorincz. He recently visited former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin for a two-day training session in New Jersey.
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