Phil "CM Punk" Brooks has yet to appear in the Octagon since signing with the UFC in December 2014, and the organization's lead analyst doesn’t believe he should anytime soon.
On his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, UFC commentator Joe Rogan said he believes Punk’s continued injury delays are a sign he should he work his way up the ranks in a smaller organization before taking the UFC leap:
I also think it's ridiculous for him to fight in the UFC.
I think he should fight in a small organization. Take a fight in a small organization, build yourself up. I have always said that's what should have happened with Brock Lesnar.
Here is a video of Rogan’s full podcast:
Punk, 37, left WWE more than two years ago and then signed a multi-fight contract with UFC 14 months ago.
On Feb. 6, UFC officially slated Punk to fight Mickey Gall after Gall's victory over Mike Jackson, but Punk revealed just after he’d need back surgery that would keep him from training for four to six weeks, thus delaying the fight.
"It got bad enough to the point where I couldn't do anything the week before I went to train with the New Jersey Devils last month,” Punk said of his back on Feb. 10, per Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com." One day I could manage, the next day I couldn't. I've been in agony for almost a month. Chiropractor, acupuncture, massage, cryotherapy...nothing worked.”
This is the second injury delay Punk has weathered since signing with the UFC, as he also was sidelined with a shoulder injury when training in October.
Rogan’s assessment seems warranted given the ongoing injuries the aging fighter continues to battle, and it will be worth observing if UFC President Dana White keeps Punk’s fight with Gall.
