Mickey Gall doesn't believe his fight against CM Punk will take too long.
The 24-year-old is 2-0 in the UFC and has a background in amateur fighting. Punk, 37, is coming off of back surgery, has never had an MMA fight in his life and is better known for his days in the WWE.
The odds makers have taken notice as well as Gall is entering the fight as a favorite over the "Best in the World."
Gall discussed the upcoming bout, which will take place at UFC 203 in Cleveland on Sept. 10, and he believes he'll get to Punk early, though he said it will take him over a minute to defeat the former WWE Champion
"Probably a little longer [than a minute], I think I'll take him out in the first round," Gall told Ariel Helwani on the MMA podcast. "I'll be ready to go five [rounds]. I'm training for him like he's the champ, you know the baddest guy in the world.
"[I'll] hit him hard, drop him, either pound him out or tap him out. Very similar [to the Mike Jackson fight], I think it'll be a little longer. ... I go in there to get the job done, you feel that big relief after -- I'll be looking to get the job done. I don't wanna be the CM Punk guy."
Gall dropped Jackson in just 45 seconds on "UFC Fight Night" back in February to improve to 2-0 and earn the right to face Punk. The New Jersey native took his opponent out with a rear-naked choke, which was the same hold he used to defeat Ron Templeton in his first professional fight.
He has been waiting and training ever since that Feb. 17 fight for Punk to finally be ready for his debut. Gall said he respects Punk, but he's looking to quickly move on from him after using him as a stepping stone to get his name out there.
Punk walked out on the WWE back in January 2014 due to his frustration over how he was used and his anger over allegedly being asked to work hurt on several occasions.
He then signed with the UFC that December and has been training for a fight, despite the many setbacks he's encountered.
After back surgery, Punk is now finally ready to enter the Octagon after a long wait.
All of that training and time will boil down to a very quick defeat, according to Gall.
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