CM Punk Confident He’ll Return to UFC

After CM Punk’s UFC debut went as disastrously as it could have, many doubted the former pro wrestler’s chances at fighting on the biggest stage again. However, Punk has broken his silence and says that he believes he will fight again in the UFC.

Phil "CM Punk" Brooks appeared on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani and said that UFC President Dana White has not made a decision about his future in the promotion just yet.

"I don’t want to speak for him, but I think if he wants to kill it, he would have killed it right then," Punk said. "Until anything is official, I don’t want to say either way what he’s thinking or what he’s thinking. But yeah, I’m pretty confident that it’ll be in the UFC."

Punk made his long-awaited UFC debut at UFC 203 with no prior mixed-martial-arts bouts under his belt. He faced 2-0 young gun Mickey Gall, who promptly buzzsawed through Punk with the type of ease that many expected. Punk was outclassed from the opening bell: He waded forward stiffly, got taken down easily, and was submitted after a couple minutes of brutal ground-and-pound.

After the disappointing debut of CM Punk, Dana White said that Punk would "probably" not compete in the UFC again. Many expected Punk to build himself up in the smaller promotions.

Punk, however, has been clear that he wants his next fight to be in the UFC.

"I told him I want to fight again," Punk said. "We’re back at it. We’re back to the drawing board. So, it’s up to him. He floated me an idea and we’re kind of going back and forth on it right now."

Despite taking a disheartening beating in his debut, Punk has continued to train in Milwaukee under head coach Duke Roufus.

"I felt like I was in the best shape of my life still, so I just kept after it," he said. "I think that’s the best thing you can do after you lose."

Dana White has not made any firm statement concerning Punk’s future, though Punk says that fans may receive some news in the near-future.