CM Punk faces Mickey Gall in UFC debut

AP

The CM Punk sweepstakes is finally over.

Welterweight Mickey Gall earned the right to face the former WWE champ, impressing the fans with a first-round submission win against Mike Jackson in just 45 seconds at UFC Fight Night 82 in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday Manila time).

Gall caught the debuting Jackson in a rear naked choke and in an instant, earned his second UFC win in as many bouts.

He then pleaded for a bout and called out Punk, real name Phil Brooks, to enter the Octagon.

“I want to be fed. I’m hungry. Feed me CM Punk, please!,” said Gall, as UFC commentator Jon Anik made the match official. Punk then entered the Octagon and shook hands with Gall.

The 24-year-old Gall has had his eyes set on Punk for a long time, telling Fox Sports last January, “I’ll finish CM Punk.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll knock him out or I’ll submit him, but I think it ends in the first round. I’m supremely confident. I think I’m made for this fight. It’s a dream opportunity. I did think I’d get to the UFC one day but didn’t think it would happen this quick, but I’m extremely ready. If this comes to fruition, I’ll be a happy man,” he said.

Punk, 37, has been out of action since he last wrestled at Royal Rumble 2014, when he retired from professional wrestling.

He has then took his act to the mixed martial arts world, signing with the UFC on December that year and trained under Duke Roufus, together with former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and ONE FC welterweight titlist Ben Askren in Milwaukee.

Punk was supposed to make his debut in 2015, but a shoulder injury derailed his plan and held him inactive ever since.

Thanks to the drawing power he has from his wrestling background, Punk has repeatedly expressed his intentions to make his first fight at UFC 200.

However, UFC president Dana White has other dates in mind.

“The CM Punk fight is probably going to be in June. UFC 199 is what I’m thinking,” White said in a report on Bloody Elbow.