CM Punk appeared on on The Jon Anik and Kenny Florian Podcast on Monday and talked about his UFC training, his eventual debut and more. Check out the highlights:
On potentially not fighting until 2016: “I’m super OK with it if my accountant is. [laughs] I know Duke has told me, and I think he’s been public with it, that he would like a full 12 months before he signed off on me fighting. I’ve had zero talks with Dana (White) or Lorenzo (Fertitta) or Joe Silva – anybody – about an opponent, about a date. I’m thankful for that because there’s zero pressure on that, too. I think a lot of people are antsy. They’re saying on Twitter, ‘Ah, you’re never going to fight.’ This was just announced in what? November? December? I’ve been training full-time for like six months. As bad as I have the itch to get in there, like I said, I want to be as prepared as I possibly can be. I wouldn’t be upset if it got pushed into 2016.”
On his training environment: “It’s just a grind. I wrestled for stupid lengths of time in front of almost 100,000 people. You deal with an adrenaline dump and all that stuff. When you’re sparring and doing those rounds and everyone in the gym is, to be honest, light years better than you. I really think it is sink or swim. It’s just getting through that round. Physically I’m always there. My legs are always under me and I’m never out of breath. I think to go forward in any aspect of MMA, it’s all mental. Luckily I’m pretty strong there.”
On when the time will come to set his first fight: “I’m also looking at the big picture; this isn’t a one-and-done thing for me. I’m not looking to fight just once, win, lose or draw. This is something I’m training for, and I feel like it would be a super waste of time if I was just training for one fight or anything like that, if I wasn’t just making a career out of it. Getting beat up in the gym every day wouldn’t be worth it in the big picture. I’m not saying I’m going to make a title run or anything like that, but I’m also – I’m looking to maximize my time here. If I wind up fighting in 2016, I’m not going to be upset about it.”
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