– We are just days away from CM Punk making his UFC debut, but there have been some questions raised about Punk’s eligibility to fight professionally in Cleveland, Ohio, which is the site of this Saturday’s UFC 203 event where Punk will be fighting Mickey Gall on the main card.
The executive director of the Ohio Athletic Commission Bernie Profato explained to MMA Fighting that the reason that Punk is eligible to fight despite the fact that he has never competed as a professional fighter is because of his wrestling background that is similar to Brock Lesnar’s background when he tried to get a license to fight in 2007. Profato also stated that he has trust in UFC matchmaker Joe Silva.
“C.M. Punk has a wrestling background similar to Brock Lesnar being permitted to fight in the past,” said Profato. “There was also confidence in the matchmaker from the UFC and the past bouts he has submitted in previous UFC events in Ohio.”
Keep in mind that Punk does not have an amateur wrestling background like Lesnar has so it appears that his background in WWE helped him get cleared to fight. Perhaps? I don’t see how that would make sense. Punk has done some jiu jitsu training before UFC.
– Speaking of Punk, he is featured in the first episode of UFC 203 Embedded. As seen in the video below, Punk continues to train and prepare for his fight with Gall.
