Tag: UFC 203

Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar CM Punk is all set to make his highly-anticipated mixed martial arts (MMA) debut, against Dana White’s Looking For A Fight prospect Mickey Gall at UFC 203 this September.

Leading up to the interesting 170-pound contest in Cleveland Punk recently spoke with Collin Howard on The Herd, courtesy of MMA Fighting, to talk about his rocky past with the WWE and where his future with the UFC may lead.

Punk began by responding to critics who claim that his stint in the UFC will be for no more than ‘two or three fights’:

“What’s wrong with doing it just two or three fights? That’s a lot of money,” Punk said.

“I was the guy in wrestling that always had an exit strategy. I was always saying, ‘I gotta get out of here.’ That’s why I’m just flabbergasted that people are actually like, ‘Whoa, he left!’.

“I was surrounded by a lot of old timers on the independent scene before I went to WWE. They were always like, ‘You gotta get out.’ You gotta get in, you get out.

“You can make a stupid amount of money, but if you stick around you wear out your welcome. Something bad’s going to happen.

“Guys that were legends in the sport, they made their money and for whatever reason, they didn’t get out,” he explained. “I always looked at that like, ‘I’m going to listen to the old, wise sages’. I’m going to get in to get out.

“I know people think this is a publicity stunt, I’m never going to set foot in the Octagon,” he acknowledged.

Regardless of what his critics may think Punk is looking forward to proving them all wrong when he meets Gall in their welterweight contest this September, and is also confident he can secure a title shot if he is able to muster up a solid enough win streak:

“I look forward to proving them wrong, but to me, it’s not super far-fetched to be like, ‘You know what? What if I put three or four wins together? Who’s to say I don’t get a title shot?

“I’m a very positive thinking person. Of course I’m not going to saddle myself with this negativity that’s, ‘Oh, that’s it for me’. Because to me in life, it’s so cliche and it sounds so corny, so Karate Kid-like, but it’s not about getting knocked down.

“It’s about how many times you get up. That’s why I train the way I do. I get knocked down in training every day, so on Sept. 10th I won’t get knocked down.

“To wrestling fans who say, ‘Oh, this is B.S.’…the ones who say I’m going to fight one time are the same ones now saying I’m never going to make it to the Octagon. That’s for them to say,” Punk said. “They’re entitled to their opinion, but I’ll prove them all wrong.”

Punk and Gall will throw down at UFC 203 live on pay-per-view (PPV) from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 10, 2016, the UFC’s first-ever event in Cleveland. Hometown native Stipe Miocic will make his first title defense against Alistair Overeem in the card’s headliner.

The post CM Punk Confident He Can Earn Title Shot With ‘Three Or Four Wins’ appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar CM Punk is all set to make his highly-anticipated mixed-martial arts (MMA) debut, when he steps into the Octagon against young welterweight prospect Mickey Gall at UFC 203 in Cleveland.

Gall (2-0) earned his shot at Punk following his first round submission victory over Mike Jackson, via rear-naked choke at UFC Fight Night 82 back in February.

Now Gall and Punk are slated to go toe-to-toe at the Quicken Loans Arena in Ohio, which the 24-year-old Gall told FOX Sports he is taking ‘very seriously’:

“I’ve been training. I’ve been getting bigger and stronger to not only prepare for this fight, but also for down the line. It’s just given me more time to train and keep getting better.

Would I liked to have fought before now? Sure. But I’m doing the right things and getting better everyday,” Gall said.

“I’m going to prepare as if they say he’s “the best in the world”. I’m going to prepare like he’s the baddest dude around,” Gall said.

“I don’t really think I need to see tape. I’m going to force my game. I’m taking him very seriously.

While many MMA fans across the world may be a little upset with the former WWE star’s sudden thrust into the big leagues of the sport, Gall isn’t willing to look past Punk regardless of how unexperienced he may be:

“A lot of people are treating him like a joke but I’m going to look like a real (expletive) if I go out there thinking he’s a joke and get myself beat. I won’t let that happen. 

He’s made his money, done his thing. This is how I’m going to make mine and set my path,” Gall said. “It’s a great opportunity but it’s a high risk, high reward.

If I do something stupid and lose, I look like an (expletive), I look stupid. I’d be getting the jokes that he’s getting and I’m not going to let that happen.

I’m not training like this is going to be an easy win. I’m training like I’m facing the champion.”

Gall is confident he’ll leave Ohio win yet another win on his young and undefeated career, but believes Punk will also fight again following their encounter in September:

“I think there’s still some money to be made off him,” Gall said. “I think he’ll probably fight again. I’m going to beat him and then he’ll try to get some retribution to get a win or something.”

UFC 203 takes place live on pay-per-view (PPV), from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on September 10, 2016.

The post Mickey Gall Reacts To Upcoming Bout With CM Punk At UFC 203 appeared first on LowKick MMA.