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23rd Jun 2016

CM Punk’s much-maligned but highly-anticipated UFC debut has finally been set

Better late than never...

Ben Kiely

UFC fighter CM Punk… we’ll never get used to that.

On September 10, 2016, one of the most high profile UFC signings of all time, will be making his promotional debut at UFC 203.

The former WWE superstar will take on Mickey Gall in a welterweight bout at the event in Cleveland, Ohio, which will be headlined by hometown hero Stipe Miocic’s first title defence against Alistair Overeem.

Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, revealed on the new UFC Unfiltered podcast that he has been cleared by doctors this week after a back injury that has seen him out of action since February.

Brooks’ promotional debut in the big leagues will also mark his professional debut in the sport and although he has been training at top gym Roufusport for over a year, he has no previous combat sports experience bar some karate when he was younger and a bit of BJJ.

Luckily for Brooks, the man he faces is 2-0 and is coming into this bout off the back of a win against a photographer who was 0-1.