As per recent reports, UFC is looking to bring CM Punk back for another go-around to face off against Mike Jackson, though talks are in the initial stages. The bout was being targeted to take place at UFC 225 in June.
Mike Jackson, who lost to Mickey Gall via first-round submission in February 2016 in a fight for the right to welcome CM Punk to the Octagon. Since then, Jackson has used social media to poke at the former wrestler in hopes of being his second opponent in the UFC.
Mike Jackson told FloCombat, no contract has been signed just yet. Moreover, he says neither his team nor the UFC matchmakers are aware of Punk’s status, as of the moment.(Quotes Via BloodyElbow)
“No contract has been signed. I’m waiting to hear back from Phil and his camp,” Jackson said on a recent episode of FloCombat.com’s Top Turtle MMA podcast. “I’ve spoken to Mick Maynard, who is a close personal friend of mine as well as the UFC matchmaker, and he kind of doesn’t know what’s going on at this time with (CM) Punk.”
Punk, a former WWE champ made his debut at UFC 203 back in September of 2016 against welterweight contender Mickey Gall and lost the bout via first-round submission. Punk and Jackson hold the exact same win-loss record and lost the exact same way against the same foe. Regardless of his skills and experience, Jackson doesn’t see Punk as any kind of real threat.
“[Brooks is] really getting a crash course, and I feel that, unless you’re some crazy prodigy, like a young B.J. Penn, the chances of you picking up different facets of the game to compete with someone — even on my level — it’s very slim,” Jackson said.
“Then you add in the fact that he’s pushing 40. And then, the other variables that people don’t even consider, is the wear and tear that professional wrestling puts on a man’s body.”
UFC 225 is scheduled to take place on June 9th in CM Punk’s home city of Chicago, Illinois.
