Roufus on CM Punk: UFC return is ‘looking hopeful’, I want to see it in 4 or 5 months

Duke Roufus is optimistic that CM Punk will get a second chance in the UFC.

Former WWE superstar CM Punk finally made his UFC debut last September 10th at UFC 203. Things did not go well for him, unfortunately, as he was forced to submission by Mickey Gall in the first round of their fight via rear-naked choke.

After an outcome that was expected by a good chunk of fans and fighters alike, UFC president Dana White stated afterwards that UFC 203 may have been Punk’s last UFC appearance.

“Is CM Punk going to be a guy who is going to stay in the UFC and continue to fight? Probably not,” White said in an October interview. “But he wanted to try it. I like the guy. I respect the guy. He wanted to fight in the UFC. He wanted to do it. He trained for two years, and he did it.”

The 38-year-old Punk had apparently been back in the gym since his loss to Gall, grinding it out under Duke Roufus and the rest of the team in Milwaukee. While Roufus has been impressed with what he’s seen from Punk so far, he also admitted that more work is needed to be put in.

“He’s going to get better,” Roufus told MMA Fighting. “Obviously, he didn’t perform the way we wanted to perform. We had some things he was doing really well with, he just didn’t happen. It’s just going to take time.”

“But the great thing is he has an incredible attitude, and he’s very thankful for the opportunities. He’s getting better, he’s back in training and right after this fight (between Pettis and Holloway), I’ll be picking up big time with him.”

Apart from several interviews, Punk had generally kept himself off the radar within the MMA realm. But he had actually been in constant talks with White, which according to Roufus have been going well. So much so that he is foreseeing a CM Punk return in “four or five months.”

“Yeah, definitely, I believe he and Dana are talking. I just talked to Punk on Monday before that, and things are looking hopeful,” Roufus said. “I can’t say yes or no, but they’re looking hopeful. We’re going to see.”

“Dana’s always got a good recipe of what he’s going to create, and what’s best for the sport, and what’s best for Punk and everyone else.”

Duke Roufus is optimistic that CM Punk will get a second chance in the UFC.

Former WWE superstar CM Punk finally made his UFC debut last September 10th at UFC 203. Things did not go well for him, unfortunately, as he was forced to submission by Mickey Gall in the first round of their fight via rear-naked choke.

After an outcome that was expected by a good chunk of fans and fighters alike, UFC president Dana White stated afterwards that UFC 203 may have been Punk’s last UFC appearance.

“Is CM Punk going to be a guy who is going to stay in the UFC and continue to fight? Probably not,” White said in an October interview. “But he wanted to try it. I like the guy. I respect the guy. He wanted to fight in the UFC. He wanted to do it. He trained for two years, and he did it.”

The 38-year-old Punk had apparently been back in the gym since his loss to Gall, grinding it out under Duke Roufus and the rest of the team in Milwaukee. While Roufus has been impressed with what he’s seen from Punk so far, he also admitted that more work is needed to be put in.

“He’s going to get better,” Roufus told MMA Fighting. “Obviously, he didn’t perform the way we wanted to perform. We had some things he was doing really well with, he just didn’t happen. It’s just going to take time.”

“But the great thing is he has an incredible attitude, and he’s very thankful for the opportunities. He’s getting better, he’s back in training and right after this fight (between Pettis and Holloway), I’ll be picking up big time with him.”

Apart from several interviews, Punk had generally kept himself off the radar within the MMA realm. But he had actually been in constant talks with White, which according to Roufus have been going well. So much so that he is foreseeing a CM Punk return in “four or five months.”

“Yeah, definitely, I believe he and Dana are talking. I just talked to Punk on Monday before that, and things are looking hopeful,” Roufus said. “I can’t say yes or no, but they’re looking hopeful. We’re going to see.”

“Dana’s always got a good recipe of what he’s going to create, and what’s best for the sport, and what’s best for Punk and everyone else.”