One of the major concerns knowledgeable wresting fans had when CM Punk announced his transition from the squared circle to cage fighting was his body’s ability to take punishment. Punk is tough, no doubt about that. He’s also held together with duct tape, with a list of injuries about as long as you’d expect for a prolific 36-year-old wrestler.
So, it should be no surprise that his body finally broke down a bit as he trains for his UFC debut sometime in the hazy future. ESPN reports that Punk injured his shoulder on a scramble and is going to have to take some time off from training. As for how preparations are going for his UFC debut, here’s his coach Duke Roufus:
“He’s about at 50 percent,” Roufus said. “But that being said, remember that my 100 percent is a very well-prepared person.
“The UFC will probably book him a fight three to four months in advance — a guy of his magnitude. We’re probably looking at a fight in the next six to 10 months. The injury throws us back one month. We had a ballpark. We were looking at mid- to late-spring. Now, we’ll just have to see how he comes back from the injury.”
The UFC announced Punk’s signing back in December of 2014 with the idea that he’d be debuting sometime around now. Now it sounds like we’re still a good six to eight months from seeing his debut — which isn’t that bad. A year and a half to take a pro wrestler from a bit of jiu jitsu to ready for the UFC is still an impressive feat. Especially when his body betrays him.
Will Punk really be ready by then? You get the feeling he’s going to step into the cage regardless. Just part of the reason so many people can’t wait for him to show us what he’s got.
(via ESPN)