CM Punk has many detractors heading into his first UFC fight, and the hate doesn't only come from fellow MMA fighters.
WWE Superstar Ryback has had heat with the "Best in the World" in the past and he recently took to Twitter to throw shade at Punk, who is set to step into the Octagon for the first time when he takes on Mickey Gall.
After many, many setbacks, the "Best in the World" will make his highly-anticipated UFC debut when he battles Gall on Sept. 10 at UFC 203 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Ryback, who recently underwent surgery on his nose, took a photo of himself post-surgery, taking a shot at Punk in the caption:
Feeling like @CMPunk after his first fight, not the 16 mock ones he lost the first real one. #BeatUpJohnCena pic.twitter.com/uglnzviPSs
— The Big Guy (@Ryback22) July 8, 2016
There is history between Punk and Ryback as "The Big Guy" once injured his former peer in the ring and the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion verbaly berated him on Colt Cabana's podcast after walking out on the company.
Punk walked out on the WWE back in January 2014 amid his myriad frustrations with the company. He then signed with UFC that December, but had several setbacks prior to his debut, which most recently includes undergoing back surgery. There were reports Punk wasn't doing well in training, which is what Ryback eluded to in his caption.
Ryback has recently drawn similarities to Punk as he was sent home by WWE officials back in May over a contract dispute and has yet to return.
Gall is 2-0 in the UFC and has a lot of fighting experience, while Punk will be taking part in the first MMA fight of his career. Though Punk admitted he doesn't quite have the experience of his opponent, he has no shortage of confidence entering the bout.
"Body weight, height, reach, everything like [that], I think we're almost identical. Experience goes to him," Punk said on the 'UFC Unfiltered' podcast last month, according to WrestlingInc. "He [has] fought in the Octagon and other places and I haven't. He's a nice guy. I talked to him very briefly at his debut and I felt bad about that setback and he [has] been kind of sitting on the sidelines, but here we are now. I think he's a tough kid, but also his fights have been pretty short. You don't really get to see all of his skills."
Punk will hope not to look like the post-surgery Ryback by the time his debut fight ends.
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