Former WWE champion CM Punk could finally be set to make his long-awaited UFC debut after recovering from the injury that pushed back his first ever professional mixed-martial arts bout. Having made the bold and somewhat surprising decision to leave the world of WWE in late 2014 in order to chase his dream of fighting in the UFC, the 37-year-old has failed to make it as far as booking his debut fight due to a number of injuries. With his first ever opponent now selected, it’s looking as though Punk will finally step into the Octagon before the end of the year. This could be a fight that will answer many of the questions that have surrounded his move into MMA.
Punk’s Training
Having made the decision to base himself in Milwaukee under the guidance of coach Duke Roufus, the former WWE heavyweight champion went about embarking on something of a crash-course in MMA. Working alongside the likes of Anthony Pettis and Ben Askren, the UFC’s most peculiar signing made brief appearances in public over the course of his first 12 months as a full-time MMA fighter – although it wasn’t until the beginning of this year that we discovered who would welcome the former professional wrestler into the Octagon.
Punk’s Opponent
The signing of CM Punk, real name Phillip Brooks, left the UFC with a number of tough questions to answer – not least who he would face in his debut fight? Finding a suitable opponent wasn’t easy, with the organisation forced to bring in someone from outside the UFC. Young New Yorker Mickey Gall was the lucky man to catch the eye of UFC president Dana White. Gall booked his bout with Punk after submitting Mike Jackson in his first fight in the organisation earlier in 2016. Unbeaten in two amateur bouts and two professional outings, Gall has done little to suggest the UFC have given Punk an easy touch for his first appearance. With odds of 23/10 with 32Red Canada and 888sport at the time of writing, it remains to be seen whether the former WWE star can silence some of his critics and make a winning start to life as a UFC fighter.
Punk’s Injuries
While there has been very little information released as to how Punk has handled himself in sparring, one thing that has been clear is that his body has struggled to adapt to life in MMA. As with many former WWE stars, Punk’s body has been through the mill during his time as a wrestler, and a shoulder injury was followed by a back issue that required surgery to correct a herniated disc. Now nearer 40 years old than 30, the UFC new man knows his time is running out to fulfil his dream. Another injury setback may end up bringing a fitting end to what many have seen as being a farce all along.
Punk’s Chances
Looking at how well Gall performed in his debut, and considering how little we actually know as to how good or bad Punk is, it’s probably fair to say many expect this story to not end well for a man who was one of the WWE’s most popular stars throughout his time with the company. Even if Punk somehow manages to win his debut, something he has odds of around 3/10 with 32Red and other bookmakers of achieve, it’s hard to see how a 37-year-old novice is going to then go on and beat any experienced fighter in the UFC. He might be one of the most competitive men to have wrestled in the WWE, but it’s going to take more than that to mix it with the best MMA fighters in the world.
“CM Punk” (CC BY 2.0) by interbeat
Punk’s Role
Whether it’s to try and see whether Punk can actually transfer his talents from professional wrestling into mixed-martial arts or prove to the world just how tough the sport is, it’s not clear as to why the UFC have signed the former WWE star. One thing is for sure, though, when the UFC announce when Punk will make his debut, whether it is UFC 203 or 205, they will be well aware that there will be a huge spike in numbers tuning in to see just how this story ends. At a time when the organisation needs stars, it might not be the one who wins a fight that gets them the most attention this year.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
