Morning Report: Paul Heyman says CM Punk is 'very accepting' over chance he could be 'knocked out or tapped out and beat up'

We don't know who, when and where CM Punk will actually be fighting, but his mentor and WWE personality Paul Heyman has some idea as to why.

While the vast majority of professional athletes are motivated by things like money and self preservation, Heyman says that's not the case with Punk.

"I don't think money is the motivating factor in CM Punk's life whatsoever. I think it's the challenge to do this," Heyman told professional wrestler Steve Austin on his podcast (via FOX Sports). "This is something he's been eyeballing since he was a kid, and I think he looks back and he probably regrets not getting into it five or six years earlier, but this was the time to pull the trigger on it."

Following a career with WWE, Punk was signed by the UFC in December and began training under Duke Roufus full time shortly thereafter.

In February, Punk said he was five months away from he his team having a serious discussion about when to make his UFC debut, ultimately leaving that decision up to his coaches.

"I think he firmly believes he is either going to step in that Octagon and shock everybody by beating somebody's ass, or he's going to get punched in the face and knocked out or tapped out and beat up, and I think that he's very accepting of the fact that that's a possibility," Heyman said.

"He's man enough to walk in there and take his chances."

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Shot fired. Ben Rothwell questions how UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will perform when new PED tests start. 'If anyone takes offense to that, maybe they ought to look at themselves and look at their problems.'

'You want to test me right now?' Cain Velasquez is stunned by Ben Rothwell's PED implications. 'I'm never known for physique.'

Monday Morning Analyst. Luke Thomas breaks down the techniques from UFC Fight Night 68, WSOF 21 and GLORY 22.

'I thought I matched up really well with Cormier.' Ryan Bader says he's a 'more dangerous' opponent for Daniel Cormier than Alexander Gustafsson.

Not done. Vitor Belfort says he plans to start another run at UFC middleweight title. 'I know I'm still at the top of the division.'

Watch The MMA Hour with Ryan Bader, Ben Rothwell, Travis Tygart, Ovince Saint Preux, Javier Mendez, Luke Barnatt, Cathal Pendred, Darren Till and Brian Ebersole.

MEDIA STEW

UFC 188 embedded episode 1.

Dan Hardy breaks down UFC 188.

Stipe Miocic says he's the best in the heavyweight division.

Behind the scenes and recap of GLORY 22.

Cain Velasquez trying to trash talk.

Raging Al with a shot at Bobby Green.

Long watches.

Countdown to UFC 188: Gilbert Melendez vs. Eddie Alvarez

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TWEETS

Interested?

Hey @danhendo CONGRATS on your win. Enjoy the rest. Lets talk to @danawhite about doing a Fight For The Troops card and putting on a show.

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) June 8, 2015

Meathead.

I'd like nothing more than to hide my face, but that won't accomplish anything. I'ma striker, it showed. Not wrestler, that showed too.

— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) June 8, 2015

Fully believe that I'm the best, most dynamic striker w TDD in my division. I made a split second dec. I'll be slanging heavy leather soon

— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) June 8, 2015

For all those that want to critique & bring heat, c'mon. Felt like he was frustrated & the TD was going to crumble him. Crumbled me instead.

— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) June 8, 2015

Excited?

Now it's official August 8 @ufc #nashville pic.twitter.com/bEZR321A3S

— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) June 9, 2015

Get well soon.

High on meds, still not going to break my character! Haha these guns are locked and loaded #PostOp #Surgery #Hernia pic.twitter.com/45p0Yeh3cE

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) June 8, 2015

Well everyone i have unfortunate news. I have a torn Labrum in my hip and have to get it fixed with surgery. 4 to 6 months recovery time :(

— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) June 9, 2015

Beef.

Wow @AlexGarciaMMA, ur horrible at trash talk & I'm horrible at wanting to hear it. How about u train hard and we settle it at #UFC189. @ufc

— Mike Quick Swick (@officialswick) June 8, 2015

Still talking @Pendred!! Dude give it a rest. I guess the only way to settle this is to fight again. Maybe you will stop tkn then.@ufc

— Sean Spencer (@seanspencer170) June 9, 2015

This is why @RondaRousey won't fight @CrisCyborg @UFC best #P4PCyborg #InvictaChamp @PTC2011... https://t.co/qc1nXckLVT

— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) June 8, 2015

DC approves.

This needs to be said, I love Ben Rothwell @RothwellFighter he's a dark force the world has never seen before. His evil laugh was money. DC

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) June 8, 2015

Tiny Tornado.

"Evolution of a Tiny Tornado" Thoughts & insight into my @ufc 188 fight camp @AmericanTopTeam By: @alexis_salmeron https://t.co/AObzzxz70J

— Tecia Torres (@TeciaTorres) June 9, 2015

Tough call.

at dinner and @LukeRockhold and I wanna know what opening odds would be in our fight. I say me-300 and Luke +250 I need ur thoughts go

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) June 9, 2015

Imagine me with 40 more pounds, to catch up to @dc_mma

— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) June 9, 2015

Sholler u can't even keep the stage clear lol my man. Are u coming to Mexico ? https://t.co/kH4pyRkXF9

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) June 9, 2015

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (June 8 2015)

Neil Magny vs. Demian Maia at UFC 190

Sara McMann vs. Amanda Nunes at UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs. Teixeira

Anthony Christodoulou vs. Scott Holtzman at UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs. Teixeira

Goiti Yamauchi out, Pat Curran vs. Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 139

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Graham Douglas.

The silver lining of Bader not getting the title shot.

I'm a fan of Ryan Bader. He's tough and has fought some of the best guys on the planet. He wouldn't like what I'm about to say, but it's a matter of opinion. It's not a matter of being disrespectful.

The silver lining as I see it, is that the UFC isn't going down the road of rewarding a gong show. Those pro wrestling displays are not welcome by most fans. Ariel Helwani mentioned that the video of the Cormier/Bader press conference has almost a million views. Well, therein proves the point.

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Check out the rest of the post here.

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.