7 Things We Learned From The Evolution Of CM Punk - Episode 2

The highlight of the episode was clearly Punk's next sparring session. After appearing at EXOS, he's back at Roufusport in Milwaukee. There, head coach Duke Rufous tells him that he needs to test his emotions. He then sets out teaching him better striking form, referencing the third Rocky movie, and teaching him to punch like he's stabbing someone. Go for the heart, right?

Punk's striking has noticeably improved in this segment. He's then introduced to his next sparring partner: a younger fighter, Israel Lozano. At the time, Lozano had a handful of fights under his belt, making his pro debut in 2011. At time of writing, he was 5-3 as a pro, fighting most recently in the RFA promotion, which frequently sees fighters make the jump up to the UFC.

Lozano keeps the exchanges on the feet for the most part, and Punk seems to be much more comfortable than in the past, pushing forward, not backing away from the fight but pressing the action. "When you got hit, you didn't run" praises Roufus. "One thing we cannot question is your heart and your mindset."

While there's some editing here, so you obviously don't witness the full sparring session, it looks as if Punk gets the better of his opponent, which could mark a turning point in his progression as a fighter.