Mickey Gall Says He Will Look Like a Joke If He Loses to CM Punk

Welcome to Connecticut recently interviewed CM Punk’s scheduled UFC debut opponent Mickey Gall, who spoke about their upcoming bout. Their fight is currently scheduled for UFC 203 in September. Below are some highlights (transcript via WrestlingInc.com).

Gall on learning Dana White would be at his MMA debut: “Frankie Perez, Sr., the owner of Dead Serious MMA, where I had my fight for, my first pro fight, he called me about a month before, and he was like, ‘hey, I’ve got big news: Dana White’s going to be at the fight.’ I was like, ‘what?’ Like, ‘wow, that’s amazing. How do I make the most of it?’, that’s what I’m thinking in my head. I’m going back and forth, right? ‘Oh, I’ll call out CM Punk!’ That’s the only like record. Like, who am I going to call out, Robbie Lawler? I’m going to look like an idiot. That fight would never happen. I was going to be 1 – 0. CM Punk was 0 – 0, so that fight’s realistic. That’s a way to get my foot in the door to get in the UFC, where I want to be and where I know I belong. So yeah, it all really worked out.”

On not being familiar with CM Punk: “To be honest, I was not very familiar [with CM Punk]. I guess I knew his name the same way I knew who, like, John Cena was when he was wrestling. I was a [professional] wrestling fan when I was little. I was a ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin fan, but I got into middle school and did other stuff. Do you know what I mean? I fell out of touch with wrestling. And then I started hearing about him in UFC, that he was going to have a UFC fight. I never really thought that I’d be the guy matched up with him. Then, when Dana White ends up at my fight, I was like, ‘let me just say this guy’s name and see what happens.'”

Gall on game planning for CM Punk: “I’m going to go in there and force my game onto him. It doesn’t matter what he does because I’m going to be able to force my game onto him. I’ve just been practicing the violent, painful techniques that I’ve been going over, that I’m good at, and I’m going to bring them all out in the cage. My game’s going to flourish that night.”

Gall on Punk bringing eyes to the sport: “He’s going to bring a lot of eyes and a lot of pay-per-view buys to the sport, and new eyes, so our sport is expanding and I see that as a good thing. He’s really trying to be a real MMA fighter, I believe. He’s going for it. He’s putting in the time and I’ve been doing it for eight years, putting in my time, so you’re going to see a real MMA fight when we fight.”

On possibly losing to Punk: “I know I’ll look like an ***hole if I get beat by CM Punk. I’ll look like a joke, so I’m taking this very seriously. I get nervous, but I welcome the big stage. I love it. I’m training as if he’s a champion. I’m aware of the high stakes of it. I have a lot to gain. I’d have so much to lose also, but I will not lose. I will not lose to CM Punk. No way.”