Can CM Punk Secure His First UFC Victory On June 10th?

CM Punk is used to being the underdog. The Straight Edge Savior spent most of his WWE career as something of an outcast figure, feuding with more popular superstars. He eventually rose to the top but at his highest point, Punk stepped away from professional wrestling to transition to mixed martial arts. He isn’t the first WWE superstar to do so but his time at UFC hasn’t exactly gone to plan. Injuries and defeat in his only scheduled fight thus far might have left Punk frustrated, but he has a chance to put all that behind him at UFC 225. Mike Jackson will be his opponent but can the underdog CM Punk really get his first win?

CM Punk was a popular figure long before he signed with WWE. He made his name on the amateur scene before moving to Ring of Honor and, eventually, WWE. He made his debut in 2006 but rose to prominence with his Money in the Bank win at Wrestlemania XXIV. Several months later he cashed in to defeat an exhausted Edge and become the unlikely WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

The Second City Saint’s pedigree only rose from there, and his time in WWE is perhaps best remembered for his lengthy feud with John Cena and the infamous ‘Pipe Bomb Promo’ which came from it. After a lengthy conflict and with Punk’s WWE contract set to expire, Punk and Cena fought in front of Punk’s hometown Chicago crowd. The Straight Edge Savior overcame his opponent and swiftly exited the arena – and the WWE – with the Championship Belt in his hands.

It was a fittingly controversial end to CM Punk’s career in professional wrestling but his time in the spotlight was far from finished. In December 2014, Punk announced that he had signed a multi-fight deal with Ultimate Fighting Championship and that he was planning a fast track into the Octagon. The plans for a speedy transition soon changed as injury forced Punk to reschedule his first fight. He eventually got into the Octagon with Mickey Gall in September 2016 but things didn’t go to plan as Punk was defeated in the first round.

It was a big blow for Punk who had gone from the top of one field to a crushing defeat in another. CM Punk was no match for his opponent on the night which only seems natural after considering the pair. The differences in time spent training was staggering considering CM Punk’s recent switch from WWE. Gall was also thirteen years his junior so it is perhaps no surprise that he looked every single day of it when they were in the ring.

Reports in Forbes claim that Punk brought in as much as $1,000,000 for his involvement in a fight which was a disaster to his new career. There were suggestions that Punk may even bow out from MMA but UFC President Dana White quickly put those rumors to bed.

“I like that guy. He’s a good dude,” White told the Associated Press. “He wants one more [fight]. He wants to get another shot. I’m going to give it to him.”

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“He’s a completely different case than most normal human beings, so I’m going to give him another shot.”

White was true to his word and back in April, Punk’s opponent was revealed to be Mike “The Truth” Jackson. On paper, it’s a much better bout for CM Punk than his previous one. Jackson is a lot older and is also fighting for just the second time after experiencing defeat in his first to none other than Punk’s previous opponent, Mickey Gall.

It may be a better bout on paper for CM Punk but he is still considered by many to be the underdog against Mike Jackson. Almost two-thirds of fans polled by MMAJunkie predicted a Jackson victory while MMA experts Brian Garcia, George Garcia and Dan Tom all predicted The Truth to come out on top. They aren’t alone either. The bookmakers also predict a Jackson victory with Jackson the clear 4/11 favorite at Betway as of May 14th.

It’s unclear what will happen to CM Punk after this fight. He is 39 years old and approaching the end of his career in MMA, even if it is just getting started. A victory could just as easily provide closure in this chapter of his career as a justification that he should keep going. Defeat to Jackson could do the same. CM Punk certainly stands a better chance in his second UFC match than he did in his first but is still the massive underdog. On June 9 CM Punk will really need to be The Best In The World.