UFC: Daniel Cormier, Kenny Florian Doubts CM Punk's Future in the Octagon
Many MMA and wrestling fans are still waiting for former WWE superstar Phil "CM Punk" Brooks' UFC debut sometime in 2016 and UFC President Dana White recently said that he is still looking for the right opponent. However, UFC Tonight hosts Daniel Cormier and Kenny Florian doubts Punk's future inside the Octagon.
"As time is passing, it starts to lose some of the intrigue. I think the iron was hot when he first walked out on the WWE and that's when he would have made the biggest impression on the MMA community because WWE fans would have followed him to MMA," Cormier said on their recent FOX Sports 1 segment as quoted by MMA Junkie.
Florian's concern, on the other hand, is different from the light heavyweight champion's opinion. The former title challenger said that the problem is Brook's readiness to fight a UFC-caliber opponent and not more of a promotional strategy.
"This is what really concerns me because they said he was going to fight in 2015, that he needs some time to train. I know he has dealt with some other injuries but the fact that they say that he's not ready concerns me," Florian said.
"There's a reason why they're telling him to take his time. I think his training isn't coming along as fast as they thought and it's unfortunate," he added.
White told TSN earlier in December that he will use his new show on YouTube called "Dana White Looking for a Fight" to find the former WWE champion's first opponent. The first episode of the reality show was about the UFC president scouting and signing lightweight prospect Sage Northcutt.
Many people have challenged Punk and want to face him in his UFC debut including welterweight John "Doomsday" Howard, recently retired MMA fighter Cathal Pendred, FOX Sports MMA writer Elias Cepeda, "The Green Power Ranger" Jason David Frank and former NFL linebacker Shawn Merriman, per MMA News.
Punk has been training under Duke Roufus of Roufusports in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, ONE FC Welterweight champion Ben Askren and welterweight contender Tyron Woodley train as well. The 37-year-old is currently getting back into shape after being sidelined for a few weeks because of a shoulder injury that happened in training.
Roufus and White have also said in previous interviews that the perfect and possible date for Punk's debut is at UFC 200 on July 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is most anticipated show in the history of UFC with both Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey rumored to be in the card.
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