CM Punk will eventually fight someday, and his opponent, Mickey Gall, expects that day to be in the summer.
Since signing on with the UFC in December 2014, the "Best in the World" has dealt with myriad setbacks on the road to his debut fight in the Octagon.
After Gall, a relative newcomer who hails from New Jersey, was established as Punk's opponent, the former WWE Superstar had to undergo back surgery, delaying the fight further.
The injury is just the latest in many obstacles in the path of Punk, 37, whose real name is Phil Brooks. Gall, 24, has been patiently awaiting Punk's return and expects to fight him during the summer.
"Let me tell you, I hope it's soon. I think it's going to be this summer, which I can do. I can wait," Gall recently told the SFLC Podcast (per Fox Sports). "I'm training and I'm getting better and what I can't wait for is to get my fight with CM Punk, beat CM Punk and then get started with the UFC roster."
Gall has dismissed Punk's wrestling past after earning the right to face him by winning his debut UFC fight in February. Three months later, he's still waiting. Gall said film crews have begun documenting his training for the fight, which will receive a lot of hype and publicity when it eventually goes down.
At the risk of looking beyond Punk, Gall is anticipating getting on with his career when the fight is over.
"I want to get some wins over some big names," he said. "I want to get some awards, I want to do some stuff."
A clash between Gall and Punk, who walked out on the WWE in January 2014 and saw his contract expire that July, was rumored for UFC 200 on July 9, but that date is likely out the window. The former wrestler's camp has yet to confirm when he'll be ready for a fight, while Gall is chomping at the bit.
"I'm fighting CM Punk," he said. "That's happening, exactly when I do not know, but it's happening."
Gall also ruled out taking an interim fight because he doesn't want to risk the chance to make a name for himself at the expense of the "Best in the World," whom he called a "lottery ticket" and "pot of gold."
"Here's where I stand on that -- as a fighter, yeah I'd like to stay active, like it's killing me a little bit, I would have liked to have had a fight by now," Gall said. "The smart move for me is to be patient and wait this one out."
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