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IT'S OFFICIAL: CM PUNK TO MAKE UFC DEBUT THIS SEPTEMBER...IN SAME ARENA HE WALKED OUT OF WWE

Former WWE champion CM Punk announced on the UFC Unfiltered Podcast that he would be finally making his UFC debut on 9/10 in Cleveland, Ohio at the UFC 203 PPV:

In an interesting twist of fate, Punk will be fighting at the Quicken Loans Arena, literally the same Arena he famously told Vince McMahon and Triple H he was leaving WWE, walking out of a Raw taping in January 2014.  Punk's side of that story was well documented in the November 2013 "Art of Wrestling" podcast interview with Colt Cabana, an appearance that led to WWE medical doctor Chris Amann to filing a lawsuit against the two - that suit it still pending.

Punk signed a UFC contract in December 2014 and has been training for his debut since, one that was delayed after Punk was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his back, one that he had been working with for years while in WWE that he was unaware of.

Punk will be fighting as a Welterweight and will face Mickey Gall, a fighter who was found during a Dana White scouting tour that was filmed for a Youtube series who called Punk out.  There are plans for a FOX Sports documentary to build up Punk's debut.

During his appearance on UFC Unfiltered, Punk said he was finally medically cleared and he knows people are wondering why he decided to do this in the first place. He said he just wants to be given a shot.   Punk also says he understands the resentment from fans and fighters about his treatment from UFC and noted that he can't "talk sh**" until he's in the Octagon and has done it.

Punk also noted he would be in attendance at UFC 200 when Brock Lesnar returns to UFC.

Thanks to Paul Jordan.

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