This coming June 9, Chicago will be the host to UFC 225 and among the most anticipated bouts in the card is the one between former WWE superstar CM Punk and Mike Jackson. Both are looking to get their first win inside the octagon after losing their respective debuts to a common opponent in the form of Mickey Gall. Will Punk get his first MMA victory? Or will Jackson live up to his favorite label (-250) and teach Punk another lesson about the great discrepancy between the world of professional wrestling and MMA?
There are no scripts in the world of mixed martial arts, a reality that CM Punk (0-1-0) discovered as soon as the first seconds of his debut MMA fight in 2016 against Mickey Gall. Gall did not waste plenty of time crushing the former WWE star, as he rained strikes on Punk with reckless abandon before the latter tapped out in the first round. Against Gall, Punk landed zero strikes and failed to record even a single takedown. He spent his limited time covering his head and scrambling for dear life as Gall had complete control of the bout. It’s been nearly two years since that fight, so Punk should’ve already gotten better this time around. Punk has a blue bet in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has experience training with Rener Gracie.
Like Punk, Jackson (0-1-0) was also bullied by Gall in his first and only fight so far in the UFC. He landed three strikes in that fight, but eventually got his world rocked when Gall told Jackson to beat it in the form of a first-round submission. While Punk is like the man in the mirror for Jackson in terms of MMA record, the latter is the better striker and the more experienced fighter. Before turning pro, Jackson has had nine fights as an amateur which is more than what Punk could say about his past outside of the WWE. Jackson would be in a better shape in this fight by fighting Punk on his feet instead of taking the bout to the ground, where Punk has some semblance of ability.
Writer’s Prediction
Jackson wins via knockout, and sends CM Punk back to the little leagues.
