Dana White on CM Punk's debut: 'He's going to let me know when he's ready'
It's been just over six months since former professional wrestler CM Punk began training full time for his eventual debut in the UFC.
Punk has been working out of Duke Roufus' gym in Milwaukee on almost a daily basis since January, when he began training at the team responsible for former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis as well as his brother Sergio and other UFC fighters such as Erik Koch.
According to sources speaking to FOX Sports on Friday, Punk recently bought a new place in Milwaukee where he will relocate full time while he's training for his UFC debut.
But when will that debut happen?
UFC president Dana White said during a Periscope chat on Thursday that Punk is training hard, but he won't rush him into anything until he's ready. The former WWE superstar has full command of when he'll make his debut, so when Punk makes the call, the UFC will schedule his first fight.
"CM Punk is training hard, he's getting a lot of respect from fighters and trainers in the business. He's going to let me know when he's ready," White said.
Punk is putting in plenty of work at the gym on a daily basis, which probably accounts for his decision to move to Milwaukee while he's in camp everyday to eliminate the two-hour drive he currently makes from Chicago.
While he's still a novice by professional MMA standards, Punk is trying to soak up as much information as possible and has continued to stay on course over the last six months.
"I show up everyday and I bust my ass," Punk told FOX Sports. "They have to throw me out of the gym. I'll mop up just because it keeps me there longer.
"A couple of guys pull me aside and show me something I should have done if I rolled with them or sparred with them so I want to be there as much as I can because I know that's how I'm going to get better."
It appears Punk's actual UFC debut won't happen until at least the first quarter of 2016 after Roufus personally told the 36-year-old MMA hopeful that he would like a full year to train him before he actually steps foot in the Octagon.
White seems ready to give Punk all the time he needs before he finds out what it's like to get involved in a real MMA fight next year.
