CM Punk Talks UFC Debut: ‘I Wouldn’t Be Mad If It Was in 2016’

Since the announcement was made at the end of 2014, the mixed martial arts community has been buzzing about the details surrounding CM Punk’s UFC debut. Punk chose to train with Duke Roufus in Milwaukee, so he has the likes of Anthony Pettis and Ben Askren getting him ready for his octagon debut.

When will his octagon debut be? Possibly not until 2016, if Punk has anything to say about it.

“I’m super OK with it if my accountant is,” Punk said about a 2016 debut while on the “Anik and Florian Podcast”. “I know Duke has told me, and I think he’s been public with it, that he would like a full 12 months before he signed off on me fighting. I’ve had zero talks with Dana, or Lorenzo, or Joe Silva— anybody— about an opponent, about a date. I’m thankful for that because there’s zero pressure on that, too.”

Punk knows fans are anxious to hear about his debut, and his haters are just as anxious to see if he can cut it in the UFC. “I think a lot of people are antsy. They’re saying on Twitter, ‘Ah, you’re never going to fight.’ This was just announced in what? November? December? I’ve been training full time for like six months. As bad as I have the itch to get in there, I want to be as prepared as I possibly can be.”

Punk is looking to make a career out of this and is looking at the big picture; He wants to fight for more than just one match. “…This isn’t a one-and-done thing for me. I’m not looking to fight just once, win, lose or draw,” Punk said. “This is something I’m training for, and I feel like it would be a super waste of time if I was just training for one fight or anything like that, if I wasn’t just making a career out of it. Getting beat up in the gym every day wouldn’t be worth it in the big picture.”

Punk concluded, “I’m not saying I’m going to make a title run or anything like that, but I’m also… I’m looking to maximize my time [with the UFC]. If I wind up fighting in 2016, I’m not going to be upset about it.”

Who do you want to watch CM Punk fight in his UFC debut?

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