CM Punk: ‘Who’s to say I don’t get a title shot?’

Phil Brooks, better known as CM Punk is set to make his Octagon debut at UFC 203 versus Mickey Gall.

While many believed Punk would never step foot into the Octagon against any opponent since signing with the UFC in 2014, the former WWE star is ready to prove all his doubters wrong now that he is officially set to fight on September 10 in Cleveland, Ohio.

“I know people think this is a publicity stunt, I’m never going to set foot in the Octagon,”Punk said on Tuesday’s “The Herd” radio show (transcribed by MMA Fighting). “I look forward to proving them wrong, but to me, it’s not super far-fetched to be like, ‘You know what? What if I put three or four wins together? Who’s to say I don’t get a title shot?’

“I’m a very positive thinking person. Of course I’m not going to saddle myself with this negativity that’s, ‘Oh, that’s it for me’. Because to me in life, it’s so cliche and it sounds so corny, so Karate Kid-like, but it’s not about getting knocked down. It’s about how many times you get up. That’s why I train the way I do. I get knocked down in training every day, so on Sept. 10th I won’t get knocked down.”

While the 37-year-old knows that his critics will attempt to tear him down at any given opportunity, his fight with Gall is his chance to shut them all up.

“To wrestling fans who say, ‘Oh, this is B.S.’…the ones who say I’m going to fight one time are the same ones now saying I’m never going to make it to the Octagon. That’s for them to say,” Punk said. “They’re entitled to their opinion, but I’ll prove them all wrong.”