PWTorch.com - AXS TV REPORT: C.M. Punk updates timeline on first UFC fight, Jim Ross appears live, Barnett promotes New Japan on U.S. TV

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AXS TV REPORT: C.M. Punk updates timeline on first UFC fight, Jim Ross appears live, Barnett promotes New Japan on U.S. TV

Jan 10, 2015 - 4:36:11 AM

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By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Inside MMA TV Report
January 9, 2015
Aired on AXS TV

Friday night's edition of Inside MMA featured the following pro wrestling & MMA segments...

-- C.M. Punk said he is about six months away from working with UFC officials to determine his first MMA opponent, setting up a late 2015 debut fight.

"In about six months, we might entertain who I might fight," Punk said, noting he has to drop significant weight as well as develop his fighting skills.

Punk, who appeared via satellite from Roufusport in Milwaukee with trainer Duke Roufus, said his goal is to fight in the 185 weight class. He said when UFC first approached him about fighting, he was at 220 pounds. "The weight just keeps coming off," Punk said.

Roufus said Punk's biggest strength thus far is soaking up training information like a sponge. "He's trained, but he doesn't have fight ideas and concepts," Duke said.

-- After Punk's segment aired, Inside MMA hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten talked to Jim Ross via satellite from Norman, Oklahoma.

Ross talked about Punk's assets of having a strong fighting spirit and no fear inside a ring or - in the future - an octagon. Ross also discussed WWE wrestlers starting to talk more about MMA in the locker room.

-- Later in the show, wrestler/MMA fighter Josh Barnett joined Rice and Rutten live in Los Angeles to discuss the New Japan tape library series debuting next Friday on AXS TV.

Barnett talked about his history wrestling in Japan, the quality of wrestling that will be on-display from the New Japan series, and other MMA and wrestling topics.

Included was footage from the New Japan series, including next week's debut episode spotlighting Tanahashi vs. Okada from the 2013 "Wrestle Kingdom" Tokyo Dome Show. Barnett will be providing English commentary with Mauro Ranallo.

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]