Four days ago we saw CM Punk in the octagon shaking hands with future opponent Mickey Gall, today Punk announced that he’s undergoing back surgery and a UFC 200 debut is unlikely.
According to MMAFighting, CM Punk will be out at least 6 weeks due to back surgery.
Punk’s recovery post-surgery is expected to be four-to-six weeks so his intention is still to fight at least once in 2016. Punk noted his injury and surgery is very similar to the one former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez underwent last week.
If CM Punk, aka Phil Brooks, can’t compete until the fall it’d be over 20 months since the day he signed before he’ll make his octagon debut. I’m not sure if a man with no experience could suffer from octagon rust but it seems as though Punk would be the first to have a legitimate case.
What is important for Punk is his healthy. It’ll be tough for him to beat Gall at 100%, let alone with an ailing back. Punk explains the pain he’s been feeling.
“My back has always bugged me,” Punk told MMAFighting.com. “Figured it was just wrestling sh*t. Turns out it was.
“It got bad enough to the point where I couldn’t do anything the week before I went to train with the New Jersey Devils last month. One day I could manage, the next day I couldn’t. I’ve been in agony for almost a month. Chiropractor, acupuncture, massage, cryotherapy … nothing worked.”
Even with this latest setback CM Punk remains positive about making his debut this year.
“This is just a bump in the road,” he said. “I’m positive about this.”
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