Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight Mickey Gall will have to wait a bit longer to “beat up a superstar” after news surfaced that CM Punk would be going under the knife to correct issues with his back, ultimately delaying his Octagon debut.
Gall — who earned the right to face Punk by blitzing through Mike Jackson at UFC Fight Night 82 just last weekend — was surprisingly upbeat in light of the news. In fact, the New Jersey native insists the fight will proceed once his opponent is at optimal strength.
Guys. It’s all good. The fight is still on. Minor surgery. I wish @CMPunk a healthy & speedy recovery. I want you at 100%, check that, #200
— Mickey Gall (@mickeygall) February 10, 2016
Punk’s Octagon debut was initially delayed last year after he suffered an injury during training camp.
With no timeline set for his opponent’s recovery, Gall will ride the pine and wait it out. Probably because there is no other fight on the roster — at least at this stage of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career — that will generate as much attention and notoriety as this one.
Especially with a win.