7 Things We Learned From CM Punk's Pre-Fight Interview With Ariel Helwani
4. He Thinks Mickey Gall Has "Already Lost"
Punk says that once his opponent was named it became easier to focus since he finally had a target to aim for. Ariel asks if he enjoys sharing this journey with Mickey Gall, adding that he's part of the story, and Punk disagrees, saying that he has to fight someone but that it could have been anybody.
In response to if it bothers him that the young fighter is getting the rub of being the one to take on the much higher profile former WWE star, Punk says it doesn't. Ariel follows up by asking if Gall is deserving of the opportunity - an absurd question considering he actually has fights on his resume opposed to Brooks - and Punk says "sure, why not?" but adds that he doesn't think Mickey feels that way.
Helwani wants to know what that tells him and Punk says "it tells me that he's already lost".
Punk says he's seen his fights but doesn't watch tape on him, stating that he only needed to see him one time. He thinks that with Gall being 2-0 and him being 0-0, it's a perfect fight. "I think he trains to be the best Mickey and I train to be the best Phil. He seems like a nice guy. This is business".
Punk claims that Gall is saying things that he feels like he has to say, mimicking other fighters' attempts at promotion; confident assertions such as that he'll beat him in 40 seconds, and that it makes him happy rather than angry, because it shifts the pressure off of him and onto his opponent.