As UFC makes it’s next trip to the United Center in Chicago, Illinois for UFC On FOX 16 on Saturday, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani made his annual stop to the home of Chicago’s favorite son — CM Punk.
Punk spoke with MMAFighting.com’s Helwani about his journey to the UFC, discussing his training at Roufusport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and his hope to fight in the UFC by December, a goal he claims is not at all set in stone, but instead just an internal goal he would like to reach.
The former WWE Superstar also revealed that he hopes to fight at 170 pounds, as he walks around at 190 pounds, and he will be using the “CM Punk” name in the UFC, not his real name — Phil Brooks — as was rumored after his mispelled Reebok fighter jersey was released.
Punk also spoke about his hopes for the location of his fights, noting that he expects his first fight will be in Las Vegas — airing live on pay-per-view — and that his second fight will hopefully take place at the United Center in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois.
Punk’s wife — AJ Lee (April Jeanette Mendez-Brooks) — was present during the interview, although off-camera, as Punk spoke about her departure from World Wrestling Entertainment. Punk noted that he didn’t watch WWE while he worked there, and continued to miss the program, outside of watching his wife’s segments, after he parted ways with the promotion.
He also mentioned that his wife was working somewhere she loved while employed by WWE, but there were people there making it hard for her to work there. He called it a crappy situation but did say he would support her if she ever decided she wanted to go back.
