CM Punk can't hide from one edge Mickey Gall has over him.
The former WWE Superstar has no shortage of confidence as he gets set to do battle with Gall at UFC 203 on Sept. 10 in Cleveland. Punk signed with the UFC back in December 2014, but has suffered myriad setbacks -- most recently a back injury -- delaying his debut.
Now all roads point to a battle with Gall, who is 2-0 and has been waiting idly by as Punk recovers from the operation. Though they appear evenly matched, Punk knows his opponent bests him in one category.
"Body weight, height, reach, everything like [that], I think we're almost identical. Experience goes to him," Punk said on the 'UFC Unfiltered' podcast, according to WrestlingInc. "He [has] fought in the Octagon and other places and I haven't.
"He's a nice guy. I talked to him very briefly at his debut and I felt bad about that setback and he [has] been kind of sitting on the sidelines, but here we are now. I think he's a tough kid, but also his fights have been pretty short. You don't really get to see all of his skills."
Punk also said that while he's had a lot of detractors, he never doubted he'd eventually make it into the Octagon and he ignores his haters on social media.
The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion walked out on Vince McMahon's company back in January 2014 due to his frustration over how he was used and his anger over allegedly being asked to work hurt on several occasions.
He then signed with the UFC that December and has been training for a fight, despite the many setbacks he's encountered. Punk has remained positive as he prepares for the spotlight to be on him come September 10.
"The worry of that definitely crept into my head, but I tried to stay positive and I don't think you can kind of dwell on the negative," he said. "I mean, the back surgery thing is a bum out. Anytime you have a surgery and you're an athlete, it f--king sucks. And then, there [are] the months of rehab where I couldn't do anything, but I never thought that it was over. I never thought that I wasn't going to make it to a fight. I never thought I wasn't going to fight. I tried to stay positive."
