Phil “CM Punk” Brooks will fight in 2016. This according to UFC President Dana White
White stated unequivocally that Punk would fight “100 percent” next year when speaking with Off the Record host Michael Landsberg.
The UFC announced the signing of Punk during UFC 181 in December 2014 but did not give a firm timetable on his debut. The former WWE Superstar had trained some jiu-jitsu while he was a sports entertainer but had never ventured into full-time MMA training. After declaring he would transition into MMA, he made the move to Milwaukee to join Duke Roufus’ camp to learn all the skills he needs to compete in the sport.
Punk suffered a setback when he injured his shoulder in October, but it did not sideline the former WWE champion for a lengthy amount of time.
Who will he face?
The hunt for his opponent is ongoing as White stated on the show that he is using his new reality series, Looking for a Fight, to locate the right opponent for Punk’s debut. The reality series’ pilot was released prior to UFC 192 and showcased newcomer Sage Northcutt.
White’s Instagram has shown the UFC president has traveled to Alaska; Atlantic City, New Jersey; Philadelphia and Wichita, Kansas, as part of the filming for the series. White is traveling throughout the United States to regional MMA shows to unearth the brightest prospects available.
Punk’s debut will no doubt be a spectacle as fans tune in to see how the former professional wrestler handles the world of MMA.
He’ll compete in the shark tank that is the UFC’s welterweight division.
When the signing was first announced, there was speculation as to which weight class he’d compete in as he weighed as much as 220 pounds in the WWE, but he would eventually settle on 170-pound division after realizing he was able to trim down considerably.
2016 is poised to be one of the UFC’s biggest, and awaiting Punk’s MMA debut will only add fuel to that fire. Keep an eye on White’s upcoming reality series to find out which welterweight the UFC will sign to take on Punk.
