CM Punk's first fight will in fact actually happen.
After much anticipation and mind-numbing setbacks, the "Best in the World" will likely enter the Octagon and face Mickey Gall at UFC 202. This event, ironically enough, takes place the night before WWE SummerSlam.
Jeremy Botter, the managing editor of Flosports, revealed in a tweet that though it isn't fully official, the UFC is targeting the Punk-Gall altercation for Aug. 20:
Oh. And CM Punk vs. Mickey Gall is targeted for August 20. Same night as Diaz/McGregor. Hope I didn’t ruin any announcements.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) June 6, 2016
Punk bolted the WWE in January 2014 and eventually signed on with UFC in December of that year. The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion blasted the company after walking out on it, but it's very compelling to see that the WWE is now cross-promoting with the MMA organization.
Brock Lesnar, who is currently under contract with the WWE, is returning to the Octagon for a one-off appearance when he takes on Mark Hunt at UFC 200 on July 9. The UFC is working with the WWE to help promote the SummerSlam event, which will emanate from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Aug. 21.
Punk took part in many SummerSlam events, capturing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the 2009 event. Ironically enough, Punk's last SummerSlam match was against Lesnar in 2013 at the event.
The WWE has big plans for Lesnar, who captured his first WWE World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam in 2002, for this year's big event, so he'll play a major role in the spectacle after the July 9 UFC appearance.
Though he signed with the UFC over a year and a half ago, Punk has yet to fight due to suffering many setbacks -- including a back injury that caused him to undergo surgery in February.
There have been rumors that Punk's training hasn't quite paid off, but he has no shortage of confidence heading into his first fight. The 37-year-old will battle Gall, 24, a relative newcomer who is 2-0 in his UFC career to date.
Punk's first appearance in the UFC seems to be closer than ever.
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