What Month Will CM Punk Debut in the UFC?

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

So all we know after months is it is supposed to be sometime in 2015. However, it's definitely not happening in March. April would be really hotshotting it, but I figured I'd include it anyway. My bet is one of the later months maybe even December. I think it will still probably happen in 2015 at any rate though I think there is a chance it could get pushed back to 2016. It's not like Dana White and the UFC haven't delayed fights before.

[Crappler El 0 M]

If there's a New Year's Eve PPV that falls in December, I'd go with that. If it falls in January of next year, I might go with that, though obviously that wouldn't be in the calender year of 2015.

[somsta]

Smarch. If the weather isn't too lousy.

[Raskovnik]

October, please. I want Punk getting his ass kicked for my birthday present.

[Deleted]

I don't know when it will happen but Dana may as well book a hospital room for him in advance, unless he's fighting a complete scrub he's going to get rocked.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Mar 10, 2015 14:57:55 GMT -5 @akeem said:

I don't know when it will happen but Dana may as well book a hospital room for him in advance, unless he's fighting a complete scrub he's going to get rocked.

Right after I made this thread I found this article: www.mmamania.com/2015/3/9/8176461/cm-punk-eyes-welterweight-debut-expected-to-meet-ufc-officials-july-mma

For those who don't feel like clicking the gist is Punk is thinking about dropping down to welterweight and meeting with UFC officials in July to talk about his debut.

If his debut is pushed back to 2016 and Punk gets fed a can for his first opponent than those expecting him to get knocked the f*** out might be disappointed. He's been training under Duke Roufus for a while now and if it gets pushed to 2016 he'll have a full year of training under him most likely by his debut. Not enough to build a great fighter really, but Roufus has a pretty good track record (just look at Anthony Pettis!). Cutting to welterweight should help him as well.

I still doubt Punk will go that far in MMA. Aside from the obvious (age, injuries, inexperience) if he was serious he would have accepted AKA's invitation to train with them. When you're offered the best you don't go elsewhere just because it is closer to home. I've never trained for an MMA fight, but from everything I've seen it's like preparing for war. To some extent you don't want to be close to home or comfortable.

Getting back to Punk's debut I'm really interested to see what card he gets put on. Rousey is going to be tough to promote as a headliner after she demolished Cat. Just a thought, but if Rousey does fight Cyborg (her last opponent who could be interesting) maybe Punk could be put on that card to boost buys. That is Rousey's last fight that has any chance of headlining a show now and even then I think some fans would be hesitant to order it since Rousey could just kill her in no time. Also, Rousey/Holms has potential somewhere down the line, but Holms still needs to be built up more and definitely can't get all that done by the end of 2015. Well, I guess they could, but that would be REALLY hotshotting it and throwing away a possible good buyrate. I better end this post now as I've strayed too far and am talking about Rousey, but that happens with lot of MMA discussion if you give me enough time

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

A month before he gets killed by an actual fighter.

That's a promise!

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Mar 10, 2015 16:58:34 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

A month before he gets killed by an actual fighter.

That's a promise!

Punk might get killed in his second fight (hell, he might get killed in his first!), but you can bet your tookus if he wins his first fight his second won't be for like 6 months. UFC knows how to draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag things out. Hell, look at their heavyweight champ. Cain Velasquez hasn't been in a fight since 2013! I know he was scheduled for one and had to call it off but still.

Off topic, but I am hoping Fabricio Werdum knocks Velasquez the f*** out when they have their title unification fight. Werdum has such good technique for a heavyweight it's crazy. He really won me over with his Browne fight and his fight with Hunt just made me all the more a fan of his.

[kidglov3s]

I figure Punk will debut on either a July or New Years PPV card.

[salz4life]

I think the UFC is coming back here to Chicago in June (or maybe July). I had immediately thought that would be when we would see him. The closer we get without any announcement leads me to think no.

[Lancers]

Duke Roufus wants to train him for about a year. If he had his wish, then I would guess early 2016.

[Wolf Hawkfield no1 NZ poster]

I was reading on Sherdog the other day that Punk said that he will be making some sort announcement around June or July which means that his debut won't be happening anytime soon.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Mar 10, 2015 17:54:19 GMT -5 salz4life said:

I think the UFC is coming back here to Chicago in June (or maybe July). I had immediately thought that would be when we would see him. The closer we get without any announcement leads me to think no.

Punk debuting in Chicago would be a lot of fun, but I don't think it's happening, at least not in July.

I looked it up and there is a Fox TV event scheduled in July. I'm thinking Punk will be on hand at that event and there will be an announcement about his debut there possibly setting a date and his opponent.

I could see UFC returning to Chicago either in late 2015 or sometime in 2016 for the actual Punk fight. UFC 194 is the company's last PPV event scheduled for this year and it is happening on December 5. As far as the venue goes as far as I know it still hasn't been announced nor have any of the fights for it. Perhaps Punk will fight on the UFC 194 card especially if it takes place in Chicago.

That makes me curious. Are there any fighters who could potentially be fighting on the card that a Chicago crowd would be particularly interested in? I know Punk has some name value, but I'm not sure it's enough for UFC to start locating events based around it. Perhaps they could have Pettis fight on the same card since he fights out of Milwaukee which is relatively close to Chicago. Also, Punk fights out of the same camp as him so they could tie that in when promoting the events and their respective fights. It will be about 9 months since Pettis fight this Saurday then and as long as Pettis wins it will be more than enough training time for Pettis to fight a top tier opponent then.

[salz4life]

Mar 10, 2015 18:38:46 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Mar 10, 2015 17:54:19 GMT -5 salz4life said:

I think the UFC is coming back here to Chicago in June (or maybe July). I had immediately thought that would be when we would see him. The closer we get without any announcement leads me to think no.

Punk debuting in Chicago would be a lot of fun, but I don't think it's happening, at least not in July.

I looked it up and there is a Fox TV event scheduled in July. I'm thinking Punk will be on hand at that event and there will be an announcement about his debut there possibly setting a date and his opponent.

I could see UFC returning to Chicago either in late 2015 or sometime in 2016 for the actual Punk fight. UFC 194 is the company's last PPV event scheduled for this year and it is happening on December 5. As far as the venue goes as far as I know it still hasn't been announced nor have any of the fights for it. Perhaps Punk will fight on the UFC 194 card especially if it takes place in Chicago.

That makes me curious. Are there any fighters who could potentially be fighting on the card that a Chicago crowd would be particularly interested in? I know Punk has some name value, but I'm not sure it's enough for UFC to start locating events based around it. Perhaps they could have Pettis fight on the same card since he fights out of Milwaukee which is relatively close to Chicago. Also, Punk fights out of the same camp as him so they could tie that in when promoting the events and their respective fights. It will be about 9 months since Pettis fight this Saurday then and as long as Pettis wins it will be more than enough training time for Pettis to fight a top tier opponent then.

It's already been announced that they are coming to Chicago this summer. I think it is the July Fox card. Guida is the big Chicago area guy. He's fighting in April on the Fairfax, VA card. I hadn't heard that until I looked at Wikipedia at the upcoming cards this afternoon.

edit: Ricardo Lamas is also from Chicago. Felice Herrig is from Crystal Lake. There are probably others I'm not thinking of.

[Square]

Weekend before next years Mania.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Mar 10, 2015 18:43:48 GMT -5 salz4life said:

Mar 10, 2015 18:38:46 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Punk debuting in Chicago would be a lot of fun, but I don't think it's happening, at least not in July.

I looked it up and there is a Fox TV event scheduled in July. I'm thinking Punk will be on hand at that event and there will be an announcement about his debut there possibly setting a date and his opponent.

I could see UFC returning to Chicago either in late 2015 or sometime in 2016 for the actual Punk fight. UFC 194 is the company's last PPV event scheduled for this year and it is happening on December 5. As far as the venue goes as far as I know it still hasn't been announced nor have any of the fights for it. Perhaps Punk will fight on the UFC 194 card especially if it takes place in Chicago.

That makes me curious. Are there any fighters who could potentially be fighting on the card that a Chicago crowd would be particularly interested in? I know Punk has some name value, but I'm not sure it's enough for UFC to start locating events based around it. Perhaps they could have Pettis fight on the same card since he fights out of Milwaukee which is relatively close to Chicago. Also, Punk fights out of the same camp as him so they could tie that in when promoting the events and their respective fights. It will be about 9 months since Pettis fight this Saurday then and as long as Pettis wins it will be more than enough training time for Pettis to fight a top tier opponent then.

It's already been announced that they are coming to Chicago this summer. I think it is the July Fox card. Guida is the big Chicago area guy. He's fighting in April on the Fairfax, VA card. I hadn't heard that until I looked at Wikipedia at the upcoming cards this afternoon.

edit: Ricardo Lamas is also from Chicago. Felice Herrig is from Crystal Lake. There are probably others I'm not thinking of.

Not sure if you missed it or I just wasn't clear, but what I meant was I already know they are coming to Chicago in July for a FOX TV event. What I'm thinking though is that they could come back to Chicago AFTER that event for Punk's fight. As for why they wouldn't have Punk's debut at the July FOX TV event in Chicago there are at least two big reasons.

1) This is a free TV event and Punk has said himself he expects to debut on PPV. Also add in to the fact that the UFC is a little short on drawing names and it makes all the sense in the world that Dana White and friends want Punk to debut on PPV.

2) Punk needs more time to train. July would really be rushing it (not much better than if it actually happened in April). Even if he debuted in December it could be considered too quick if his background really is as flimsy as has been reported, but five months makes a hell of a lot of difference if his prior training background is pretty much 0.

[Mozenrath]

Mar 10, 2015 14:57:55 GMT -5 @akeem said:

I don't know when it will happen but Dana may as well book a hospital room for him in advance, unless he's fighting a complete scrub he's going to get rocked.

I am not totally sure how these things work, but I'd imagine it'd probably be a scrub if it's his first fight. That and maybe Dana's hoping he can have a name other than Rousey's he can put on a card that doesn't fail a drug test.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

I'm thinking Super Bowl Card next year

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Mar 10, 2015 19:00:35 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Mar 10, 2015 14:57:55 GMT -5 @akeem said:

I don't know when it will happen but Dana may as well book a hospital room for him in advance, unless he's fighting a complete scrub he's going to get rocked.

I am not totally sure how these things work, but I'd imagine it'd probably be a scrub if it's his first fight. That and maybe Dana's hoping he can have a name other than Rousey's he can put on a card that doesn't fail a drug test.

Yeah, it pretty much HAS to be a scrub the first fight. From what I've gotten the clearest thing Dana has said about it is Punk's first opponent will be someone with a record of 0-0 or 1-0. Somewhere relatively inxperienced. With Punk's proven name value and potential to be a bigger name I'm definitely thinking UFC goes on the lower end as far as inexperience goes. They might have an opponent that doesn't look like a soup can, but when you get down to it that first opponent will be.

That being said this isn't Bellator. I don't see UFC being just the kind of place to keep feeding Punk cans. Even some unranked UFC welterweights could probably destroy Punk.

The bottom line is as long as Punk gets fed a can and isn't "thrown to the wolves" as Dana has made clear he won't be Punk could last a while as a UFC fighter even if it is pretty much a farce. Even if he just gets 1 win against a can and 2 brutal losses that could take a full 12 months or more to unfold the way UFC promotes fights. To be clear that would the 12 months or more would be just between the time Punk eats his first soup came and gets his last ass kicking in the second fight (if that's what happens, Punk could get fed at least one more can before getting tougher fights).

[Lancers]

UFC only does FOX cards in Chicago for some peculiar reason. Punk ain't fighting on free TV. I would venture to guess Punk will debut in Vegas. The same town as his infamous 2011 promo.