CM Punk landed in the UFC on the basis of his professional wrestling skills, and as predicted by most, that proved to be woefully inadequate. Without an actual wrestling background (Punk’s sole combat sports experience consists of a green belt in karate earned as a child), despite training with Duke Roufus one of the greatest coaches in MMA history, Punk managed to throw a single, hapless punch before being beaten silly.

However, Jack Dempsey told a biographer, “Tell them, everything I know, I learned from the losses.”

During a recent appearance on the UFC Unfiltered podcast, Roufus said Punk grew from the experience, and that a fight will be announced soon.

Dana and the matchmakers had their weekly matchmaking meeting yesterday, and we’ll get some news soon, said Roufus, as transcribed by Mike Bohn for MMAjunkie. I just think the first time you step in the Octagon, there’s something special you’ve got to deal with getting in there. For Punk, this sounds really weird, but now he knows what a beating feels like – a real beating.

I think that will help a lot of fighters to the point of haunting them, like, ‘No, I don’t want to feel this way ever again.’ It’s not the physical. These guys are tough. It’s the mental anguish. You don’t want to feel that depressing, embarrassing feeling of getting beat up in front of God and everyone. It’s no fun. It’s been great motivation for him.

CM Punk, real name Phillip Jack Brooks, is now 39. Whatever the UFC has in mind, it has to work, as this is his last chance in the big show.