4. He Expects This To Be A Learn As You Go Deal
Apparently, CM Punk doesn't think training will fully prepare him to be a professional fighter. And that's not a knock on his training or the staff at Rufousport. It's simply that he expects to learn the most when he's in the cage, under live fire. When talking about a potential fight date, Punk had this to say:
I never gave anybody a concrete date because I wasn't sure myself. A big part of me wants to fight before the end of the year, I don't want to wait too long, but I kind of view it probably unfairly, as like having a kid. You can plan as much as you want to have a kid, but you're never gonna be prepared. Eventually I have to fight, and to me that's probably when I will learn the most.
That last statement is very, very true and something many fighters have talked about over the years. However, many have had the opportunity to start slow, develop with some amateur fights or pro fights in smaller regional promotions, then jump to the UFC. Very few fighters have fought their whole careers in the promotion - although it has happened. Heavyweight Matt Mitrione, a former NFL player, joined the UFC after appearing on the heavyweight season of The Ultimate Fighter. However, while he had no pro or amateur fights prior to that, he did train in kickboxing and karate while in highschool. Still, more than any other fighter, he might be the blueprint for CM Punk to follow.