CM Punk’s UFC debut delayed as former pro wrestler to undergo surgery Wednesday

And so the CM Punk saga continues.

The former pro wrestling star and UFC hopeful revealed on Wednesday that he’ll be undergoing surgery on his back for a herniated disc, delaying his planned UFC debut. The news comes just days after Punk’s debut opponent was determined when Mickey Gall defeated Mike Jackson at UFC Fight Night 82.

According to Punk, via an interview with MMAFighting.com, his doctor recommended surgery before he attended Saturday’s event in Las Vegas, but he kept that news to himself until after the weekend. The surgery takes place today in Chicago, and he’s expected to need four to six weeks to recover.

“My back has always bugged me,” Punk said. “Figured it was just wrestling s***. 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.

“This is just a bump in the road. I’m positive about this.”

Penick’s Analysis: Just as it seemed this might actually come to fruition… This latest delay comes just days after he was talking about wanting to fight at UFC 200, and instead it’s likely pushed out to August or later. At this stage, anyone skeptical about him ever actually fighting is more than right to do so, because this is now twice he’s been delayed by injury, and he’s only getting older. By the time he gets something scheduled, it will have been nearly two years since his signing with the UFC was announced. He’s outwardly still expressing a determination to get in the cage, but this isn’t going to inspire confidence that it actually happens.

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