Dana White May Have Finally Found CM Punk’s First UFC Opponent

CM Punk is expected to make his UFC debut in 2016.

CM Punkjoined the UFC all the way back in December 2014, but he hasn’t actually taken part in a match yet, due in large part to a shoulder injury he suffered during training. It sounds like he might finally be ready to make his debut in 2016, though, and if he does, Dana White may have found a first opponent for him.

According to MMA Junkie, White was in Philadelphia recently for his show, Dana White: Looking for a Fight, when he encountered a fighter from New Brunswick, N.J. named Mickey Gall. Gall doesn’t have a ton of MMA experience as far as fights are concerned—his record is just 1-0—but White was reportedly impressed with him. And he was even more impressed when Gall told him he is interested in fighting Punk.

“Hey, Dana White, I don’t know if CM Punk has an opponent,” Gall said, “but I would love to fight that man.”

“I like where your head’s at,” White responded.

Obviously, that doesn’t mean White is actually going to allow Gall to get a match against Punk. But Gall is actively petitioning for it on both Twitter and Instagram:

Hey @CMPunk. Hi. I am extremely free in July. You busy? Would love to welcome you to the mma world. #UFC200 @danawhite @ufc @lorenzofertitta

— Mickey Gall (@mickeygall) January 5, 2016

Gall also did an interview with MMA Fighting and revealed that he doesn’t think Punk would stand a chance against him.

“Honestly, man, I think that guy’s used to going into a ring and whispering to his guy, ‘Hey, let’s do a clothesline. Hey, let’s practice jumping off the ropes and this and that,’” he said. "I think when he gets in there and he has me coming at him looking to kill him, I don’t think he’ll be able to handle it. He’s a professional wrestler, and he’s great at that. He’s made himself a millionaire doing that. But now he’s stepping into a different world, and I think he’d be in a lot of trouble.”

Regardless of who he fights, can Punk please fight someone this year? His UFC career has gotten off to a really slow start and whatever momentum he established back in 2014 has slowly (and painfully) died out.

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[via MMA Junkie]

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