Duke Roufus Says He Is Hopeful CM Punk Will Make UFC Return
It has been nearly three months since former professional wrestler turned professional MMA fighter CM Punk made his professional MMA debut at UFC 203, where he suffered a one sided submission defeat to Mickey Gall.
Despite being winless as a fighter and getting crushed in his first fight, Punk’s coach in Duke Roufus is hopeful Punk will get another shot in the UFC.
"It’s great, personalities drive this sport," Roufus told MMA Fighting. "He’s going to get better. Obviously, he didn’t perform the way we wanted to perform. We had some things he was doing really well with, he just didn’t happen. It’s just going to take time. But the great thing is he has an incredible attitude, and he’s very thankful for the opportunities. He’s getting better, he’s back in training and right after this fight I’ll picking up big time with him. Yeah, definitely, I believe he and Dana are talking. I just talked to Punk on Monday before that, and things are looking hopeful. I can’t say yes or no, but they’re looking hopeful. We’re going to see. Dana’s always got a good recipe of what he’s going to create, and what’s best for the sport, and what’s best for Punk and everyone else."
Just in case you are wondering just how long it may take the former WWE Champion to get his next shot in the UFC, Duke Roufus does have an idea.
"Maybe four or five months," he said.
Punk hasn’t spoken out much since the defeat, but his wife in former WWE Diva’s Champion AJ Lee, will be releasing an autobiography in early 2017.
