CM Punk has yet to make his much awaited Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut, something that has been set back due to injury. But in the minds of critics and die-hard UFC fans, all Punk's plans are a hoax and more of a publicity stunt to draw in attention to the UFC.
There is one person — Ben Askren — who used to think that way but was convinced otherwise when he got to know Punk personally. Askren, Punk's Roufusport teammate and coach, knows how it is like to be doubted. He experienced such a feeling when he was knocking on the UFC door and Dana White shunned him because he needed more training.
Punk is popular and has, of course, made his mark in the WWE. Those marks alone make him different and a reason why the UFC is all-in to have Punk in the circle. But before he does enter the Octagon, he has to be ready to make sure that he does not disappoint.
Right now, all that is put on hold. His injury has halted all preparations for now, and there is no word yet on when he will resume. The plans is for Punk to be part of UFC 200 in July 2016 which will take place in Las Vegas. But if he doesn't buckle down to training soon, even that may not happen.
As far as the issue of Punk being a publicity stunt is concerned, Askren is not one to believe such. He may have toyed with the idea at first but after working with Punk, all that has changed.
He calls Punk a hard worker, something that the 36-year-old mixed martial artist has proven before. That alone seems to have convinced Askren that Punk's plan to fight in the UFC is for real.
But at his age and lack of training, Punk may have his work cut out for him. He is making a big jump to the Octagon and has yet to convince anyone that he has what it takes to survive against seasoned fighters.
With more preparation and training, Punk could eventually make believers out of the doubters as he did with Askren, but that will take some time.
