Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star CM Punk has come and gone in the UFC’s Octagon, when he got his opportunity to perform on the grandest stage in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) when he took on Mickey Gall for his first professional fight.
Punk had spent nearly two years in preparation for the career switch, choosing one of the premier camps the sport has to offer in Roufus Sport to guide him through his new career. ‘The Cult Of Personality’ was called out by impressive welterweight prospect Mickey Gall on an episode of Dana White’s Lookin For A Fight after winning his own first pro MMA bout.
Gall would officially earn the chance to welcome Punk to the Octagon when he submitted Michael Jackson in the first round of their meeting at UFC Fight Night 82 via rear-naked choke. Punk and Gall finally met under the bright lights of the main card of UFC 203 live on pay-per-view (PPV), and the result was what many in the MMA community expected.
Gall took Punk down with ease in the opening seconds of the round, and would smooth his way into locking in a rear-naked choke to force the former professional wrestling star to tap out.
Punk’s head-coach Duke Roufus was in his fighter’s corner for the event, and the transcription for his comments to Punk before, during, and after the contest (courtesy of Bloody Elbow):
Pre-fight:
Roufus: “You got this. I’m so proud of you now. Now remember, keep moving forward. Let’s go for that right hand right away [and] put him on his ass. If it don’t work, put him on the cage. You got this!”
First minute of fight:
Roufus: (CM Punk throws the right hand right away, gets taken down instead) “Alright. Good guard. Breathe. (Corner 2: “Close your guard!”) Relax, relax. Defend. Good, tie him up, tie him up, tie him up. Tie him up, Punk. There you go! (Corner 2: “Work all the way up!) Work the other hand, get the underhook. Underhook, Punk. I need left underhook, Punk! Left underhook. Turn, turn, get that underhook, Punk! Turn into him. On your right hip! On your right hip! On your right hip! (Gall briefly mounts Punk, but Punk turns on his right hip and momentarily escapes.) There you go.”
1:01 – to end of fight (2:14):
Roufus: “There you go, good. Fight the wrists. Hang in there, you’re doing good. Breathe, inch-by-inch. Control the wrist. Control that wrist, you’re good. Good. (Corner 2: “Breathe, you got this.) There you go! You’re good. Fight the hand again. Turn, turn, turn! Other way! Gotta turn the other way, son. (CM Punk turns to his left, has his back taken, flattened out, and takes ground-and-pound from Gall) Move, move! Come up, come up. Gotta roll, gotta roll. Gotta move! You’re good. (Corner 2: “Move, Punk, move.”) Let’s make a move, make a move. (Gall attempts the rear-naked choke) Fight the choke, fight the choke. Fight. Peel the top hand, good, good. Peel the top hand! Good. Peel the top hand. Top hand, Punk! Reach up, both hands (CM Punk taps) awwww. That’s alright. Yup.”
Post-Fight:
Roufus to Punk: “Hey, it’s alright buddy. You did good, alright? It’s all good. All good. Alright? It’s all good, man.”
Roufus to Gall: “Hey Mickey, congratulations champ.”
Gall replies to Roufus: “It’s an honor.”
Roufus replies to Gall: “Oh thanks.”
Roufus to Punk: “It’s alright, man. It’s all good, all good man. It’s a fight, shit happens. Put this on.”
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