Mike Jackson Throws His Name In To Face CM Punk Next
Despite taking a beating from Mickey Gall at UFC 203 earlier this month, former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star CM Punk still wants to compete inside of the UFC’s Octagon.
Gall earned the opportunity to welcome Punk into the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) by defeating Mike ‘The Truth’ Jackson at UFC Fight Night 83 in February.
Punk and Gall met on the main card of UFC 203 earlier this month, and as many expected, Gall took the former professional wrestling star down with ease and subsequently choked him out to earn a first round submission victory.
Despite many calling for Punk to walk away after having his fun in the Octagon, ‘The Cult of Personality’ remained adamant that he isn’t done competing in the cage and wants to get back in there as soon as possible.
One man who is willing to fight Punk in his second MMA bout, is the man who had the opportunity to fight him earlier this year, Mike Jackson.
Jackson recently spoke to MMA Junkie to express his interest in being the one to step into the Octagon with Punk next:
“I’ve gotten wind that Punk wants to get another fight, and it only makes sense,” Jackson said.
“It’s about making money,” said Jackson. “I’m a businessman, so I understand the logistics of all of this. As a fight fan, I remember when I heard about (Punk fighting in MMA). I was like, ‘No, no one wants to see that.’ But people are going to tune in for the spectacle of it.”
Jackson noted that it only makes sense to matchup himself and Punk as they share similar Octagon experience, and both have a loss to Gall on their records:
“The experience is the same,” Jackson said. “We both have a loss to Mickey Gall. He can’t go in there and fight dudes with a lot of experience, as opposed to bringing in someone else with very limited MMA experience. It only makes sense to put us both in there.
“This is a fight fans wanted to see even prior to me fighting Mickey Gall because neither one of us had any fights.”
“So whatever way makes the most money for everyone involved – whether it’s the UFC, or Punk, or myself,” he said.
Jackson feels that he has accumulated a plethora of striking skills throughout his experience in boxing and kickboxing, and predicts that if he were to step into the Octagon with Punk, he’d put him away with a knockout in the second round:
“I like predicting my knockouts,” he said. “I predicted each (boxing and kickboxing) fight in each round. If I fight CM Punk, I’m knocking him out in the second round.
“I want him to understand that this is a real thing. This isn’t scripted, and your life is on the line. I want him to understand that by me punching him in the face and kicking him and elbowing him repeatedly that, you need to stop.”
How do you feel about a potential bout between Punk and Jackson?
