CM Punk UFC Debut: Is Phil Brooks Ready to Face Mickey Gall?
Phil Brooks aka CM Punk finally has an opponent for his first UFC fight after Mickey Gall upended Mike Jackson in just 45 seconds via submission at UFC Fight Night 82.
Gall was the looming opponent but to make it official, he had to overcome Jackson first and then look forward to facing Punk next.
The 24-year-old neophyte did just that, punching his way towards Jackson and ending it all with a rear-neck choke to win via submission.
Punk was on hand to witness the fight though the quick ending may have not given him enough to work on. However, Gall made it easier for the former WWE star, revealing what he intends to do once he and Punk do finally get it on inside the Octagon, via the MMA Junkie.
” … I’m going to beat up CM Punk in the first round. It’s the same original prediction. I don’t think I’ll beat him quicker than this one (against Jackson), but it’ll be in the first round.”
Brash as it seems, there was no serious trash talking that could lead to possible heated confrontations, similar to how Conor McGregor does it. It was mutual respect, and Punk is equally confident of his chances against Gall.
"Very impressive. That's how I want to win a fight -- no damage. That has to be a great feeling," Punk said via Fox Sports. "I'll find out after I beat Mickey Gall."
Though nothing has been announced, the belief is that the clash will likely go down at UFC 199 where Luke Rockhold will defend his title against the same man he won it from, Chris Weidman.
It will technically be a fight featuring two rookies, though one thing going for Gall is his age.
Punk has been around in the WWE scene but things change in the UFC. It will be a totally different territory for Punk whose training status remains a mystery. From the looks of it, he will be keeping it that way as he tries to outthink the 24-year-old fighter who just got his second consecutive UFC win.
Only one other former WWE star stands to be compared to Punk, namely, Brock Lesnar. The difference is that Lesnar came into the UFC at 29 while Punk is kicking off his UFC journey at 37.
Duke Roufus has been tasked to prepare the former WWE champion though the last everyone heard was Punk suffered an injury towards the end of 2015.
From there, there is no official word on Punk but seeing him around at the Gall vs. Jackson fight could hint that he is ready to make his UFC debut – finally.
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