Morning Report: Under 'no pressure,' CM Punk 'wouldn't be upset' if UFC debut was pushed to 2016

You've waited 36 years to see CM Punk fight in the UFC. What's one more?

Joining UFC commentators Jon Anik and Kenny Florian on their podcast Monday, Punk doesn't sound like he's in a rush to make that long walk to the Octagon.

"I'll tell you who is super OK with it, my accountant," Punk said of possibly pushing his UFC debut to 2016. "She was straight up like, 'Oh yea, don't even fight this year. That would be super great.' I know Duke [Roufus] has told me, and I think he's been public with it, that he would like me for a full 12 months before he'd sign off on me fighting.

"I've had zero talks with [UFC president] Dana White, [CEO] Lorenzo Fertitta, [matchmaker] Joe Silva, anybody, about an opponent, about a date. I'm thankful for that because there's zero pressure."

Don't worry, Twitter. Punk promises you'll see him fight, for better or worse.

"I think a lot of people are antsy," said Punk. "There's people on Twitter saying, 'Oh, you're never gonna fight.' This was just announced in what, November, December? I've been training full time for like six months. As bad as I have the itch to get in there, I want to be as prepared as possible. I wouldn't be upset if it got pushed to 2016."

Reaffirming his plans to fight multiple times, Punk says he's simply looking to maximize his time and effort.

"I'm also looking at the big picture," said Punk. "This isn't a one and done thing for me. I'm not looking to do this just once. Win, lose or draw, this is something I'm training for. I feel like it'd be a super waste of time if I was just training for one fight rather than making a career out of this. Getting beaten up at the gym every day wouldn't be worth it if I wasn't looking big picture.

"I'm not saying I'm going to make a title run or anything. I'm looking to maximize my time here. If I wind up fighting in 2016 I'm not going to be upset about it."

Calling his training 'super productive,' Punk's daily grind hasn't affected his confidence.

"I'm obviously trying to cram a ton of knowledge into a short amount of time," said Punk. "People ask me every day when I'm fighting and the answer is always: 'I don't know yet.' We haven't even talked about it. The idea was to get as prepared as I possibly can.

"I'm learning a lot every day. I hear people saying training for a fight is harder than the actual fight. If that's true then once I step in the Octagon I will have no problem whatsoever."

5 MUST-READ STORIES

'You're f*cking next.' Eddie Alvarez had some words for Nate Diaz at the UFC 188 weigh-ins.

'What a mess.' Chuck Mindenhall explains how today's UFC has become the game of changing thrones.

Fortunes changed for five. Dave Meltzer explains how Fabricio Werdum, Cain Velasquez, Eddie Alvarez, Gilbert Melendez and Henry Cejudo move forward following UFC 188.

'Milestone.' Scott Coker thinks Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock could beat the record Tito Ortiz-Stephan Bonnar ratings.

Do or die. The UFC's hopes for MMA to be legalized in New York come down to the wire this week.

Watch The MMA Hour with Alistair Overeem, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Lyoto Machida, Eddie Alvarez, Scott Coker, Jessica Aguilar, Noad Lahat, Lex McMahon/Jeff Aronson and Marc Raimondi.

MEDIA STEW

Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum (UFC 188 Gracie Breakdown).

Shift with Ken Shamrock.

Cub Swanson vlogs his trip to Peru.

Nice profile on Niklas Backstrom.

Highlights from CES XXIX.

TTTHS.

Long watches.

Knuckle Up #361: UFC 188, the Cain crash

TWEETS

Here we go.

#WerdumvsDosSantos2 I'm coming for that belt. Let's do this Werdum! @ufc pic.twitter.com/hBktgD79vZ

— Junior Dos Santos (@junior_cigano) June 16, 2015

He's back.

Everyone want to fight @NateDiaz209 because he easy money. I'll be back Oct. I don't mind making easy money. @arielhelwani @lorenzofertitta

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) June 15, 2015

Nate? or Alvarez?

Let's go https://t.co/ASoSPkpCKy

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) June 15, 2015

Please be careful.

What a great trip. Cut short my buddy trashed his ACL #playinghard pic.twitter.com/VcvXBdZ8BI

— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) June 15, 2015

Get well soon.

Feeling like a brand new man with these things out!! Feeling much better! Part 1 pic.twitter.com/Im11D3h3iR

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) June 15, 2015

Contenders.

AND NEW!!! pic.twitter.com/rVhCYPgFaZ

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 15, 2015

I AM the number one contender and I WILL be champion... #hatersgonnahate

— chad mendes (@chadmendes) June 16, 2015

Fit for a king.

Hora de comer! Heeeeyyy! #nemmeviu @ Harry's Prime Steakhouse & Raw Bar https://t.co/jBElr7uXmR

— Fabricio Werdum (@FabricioWerdum) June 16, 2015

Pretty good.

Another cool edit from @alexmurilloart - I'm Jean Grey as Phoenix!! https://t.co/EauePPn62y

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) June 15, 2015

BIG BIG thanks to my niece Julka for this picture of me #niece #julka #JuliaJedrzejczyk ... http://t.co/iZU8omTVs8 pic.twitter.com/rjFAR3bDcD

— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) June 16, 2015

#ziggo4lyfe

#BattleBots on @ABCNetwork starts this Sunday June 21st at 9pm. https://t.co/CNZ043B49v

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 16, 2015

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (June 15 2015)

Chris Camozzi vs. Tom Watson added to UFC Fight Night 73 in Nashville

Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira at UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira

Arnold Allen vs. Alan Omer at UFC Fight Night: Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne

Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.