CM Punk is pulling out all the stops as he starts his MMA career.
The former WWE star has moved to Milwaukee, so he can be closer to the Roufusport gym where he’s training in preparation for his UFC debut, Ariel Helwani reported Wednesday on UFC Tonight. Punk still owns a home in Chicago, but he’s renting in Milwaukee to cut down on his commute time every day.
Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, told Helwani that his training is going very well. He just sparred five rounds Monday and felt great afterward. His coach Duke Roufus told Helwani that Punk’s training is going great, but there is still no timetable for his debut. They’re taking it day by day.
Punk, 36, got a lot of criticism when he signed with the UFC last December, given that he had no competition experience in MMA or any kind of martial art. But reports of his hard work at Roufusport have come from multiple well-regarded fighters, including Ben Askren, who was skeptical of Punk signing with the UFC at the start.
UFC president Dana White said recently that Punk and Roufus will let him know when they’re ready to book a fight. Punk said on the Anik and Florian Podcast last week that he wouldn’t even be upset if his first bout was in 2016.