Alistair Overeem Knocks CM Punk’s UFC Debut: He’s Making A Mistake
Top contender Alistair Overeem has the biggest challenge of his life coming up when he fights newly crowned heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic for the title at UFC 203, but Overeem is also looking at how former WWE star Phil “CM Punk” Brooks will do in his fight with promising star Mickey Gall at the event.
Overeem explained to FOX Sports that he understands why the UFC is booking the likes of Brock Lesnar and Punk and it’s because they will draw. However, Overeem doesn’t see Punk’s fight with Gall going in his favor.
“I totally understand and realize you need to have these ‘show’ fights to kind of boost the sport,” Overeem said when speaking to media in Los Angeles on Monday. “Brock (Lesnar) came from the WWE, I think it was great for the sport, he’s a big guy, I enjoyed watching his fights. So the same for CM Punk. He’s getting a lot of attention, but I think it’s not going to be in his favor. His division, welterweight, that’s a very hard division.
Not only does Overeem think Punk is going to have a difficult time, but he also thinks Punk is making a mistake because he doesn’t know what he is getting himself into MMA; perhaps a good point since Punk has never fought professionally.
“To me, he’s making a mistake. He doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into. He’s talking about ‘I want to test myself’ and this and that — well, he’s going to be tested. Cause two things are going to happen, either he’s going to lose and quit, or he’s going to win, and he’s going to lose later on and quit,” Overeem said. “For him to think he can just do this for fun and test himself to see and I do have to respect that testing himself, I am at the same time hoping for the upset.”
Overeem did admit that he hopes Punk does great in the fight, however:
“Because we all love the upset, I hope he’s going to do great but at the end of the day, we’re going to find out what CM Punk is made of. He’s going to be tested, and I wish him luck,” Overeem said. “Don’t give up at the first hurdle you encounter. His age is working a little bit against him and then your first fight. I don’t know.”
UFC 203 takes place on Saturday, September 10th, at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
