WWE and UFC fans alike have been wondering when CM Punk would finally don the gloves and take to the Octagon for his first professional fight. They need wonder no more. Saturday night in Las Vegas, welterweight Mickey Gall made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut at UFC Fight Night 82, submitting fellow debutee Mike Jackson in 45 seconds with a rear-naked choke. Gall, a 24-year-old New Jersey native, had been rumored for some time to be Punk's first fight in the UFC. Gall only had first professional fight coming into Saturday night, tapping Ron Templeton in 2:53 of the first round at a Dead Serious MMA fight on November 21. Gall also won that fight with a rear-naked choke. After the win over Jackson Saturday night, Gall emphatically stated, I want to be fed! Feed me CM Punk, please! The fight has yet to be officially scheduled, although early indications are that it could take place at UFC 199 on an undetermined date in June (likely June 11), or even UFC 200 on July 9 in Las Vegas. UFC President Dana White indicated in mid-January that UFC 199 was the projected date for Punk's first fight, but not set in stone. Punk announced on December 6, 2014 that he would be joining UFC as an active fighter, despite having no prior professional MMA experience. Punk joined Gall in the Octagon after the fight on Saturday, lightly exchanging words with his future opponent. Punk would comment to The Daily Mail afterward about Gall's win, 'It was very impressive, that's how I want to win a fight. That's got to be great feeling and I'll find out after I beat Mickey Gall."
Justin has been a wrestling fan since 1989, and has been writing about it since 2009. Since 2014, Justin has been a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine. Justin also writes for History of Wrestling, and is a contributing author to James Dixon's Titan series.
