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15th Dec 2017

CM Punk’s coach has the perfect opponent in mind for his second UFC outing

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Ben Kiely

CM Punk is a UFC fighter, deal with it.

MMA fans aren’t clamouring to see CM Punk return to the Octagon after he was thoroughly embarrassed in his debut. However, it’s not only MMA fans who will be buying the PPV.

Former WWE superstar CM Punk is a UFC fighter. That’s the world we’re living in. He’s nowhere near UFC calibre, but he’s a recognisable name on a staggering contract who brings attention to the sport.

While the UFC’s signing him was a shameless move, he appears to be a safe draw. His fame brought a few more eyes to a brilliant heavyweight title fight between Stipe Miocic and Alistair Overeem. He wants another crack at MMA and his coach Duke Roufus doesn’t want to deny him the opportunity.

UFC president Dana White doesn’t appear to be done with Punk either. At his pre-UFC 218 press scrum, he confirmed he was going to sit down with Punk, although he was sketchy on the details.

“CM Punk is coming to Detroit and wants to talk to me. I love the guy. We’ll see what he’s doing.”

Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series seems like the perfect home for Punk. However, if the promotion wants to cash in on his drawing power, there is a perfect opponent out there for a second numbered event outing.

He lost to Mickey Gall, so a fight against the man brought in specifically to lose to Mickey Gall might be the ticket. They both have the same professional record of 0-1. They both lost via first-round submission loss to Gall. Both of them want another UFC fight.

Jackson, a photographer by trade, will also do his part to sell the fight. Comically, he called out Punk to fight him to ‘see who the real can is.’

Failing that, we’re sure Punk would like to get that loss back from the fold-up chair at UFC 218. That rematch is there for the taking…