Meet Mickey Gall, who hopes to welcome CM Punk to the UFC

By Case Keefer (contact)

Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 | 2 a.m.

Given his insistence on training twice a day in mixed martial arts while attending Rutgers University as a full-time student, Mickey Gall couldn’t find any ideal work.

So he took the only job that would fit into his schedule. Gall became the driver of a bread truck, delivering loaves to Wal-Marts all across his native New Jersey.

“It stunk,” Gall recalled. “I would get the truck at like 7 at night and drive until 6 in the morning.”

Gall made the sacrifice, and numerous others, with sights on his long-term goal of getting to the UFC. It’s a goal he's reached early, as the 24-year-old welterweight will debut in a fight against Mike Jackson at UFC Fight Night 82 Saturday evening at the MGM Grand Garden Arena after one professional bout.

Gall vs. Jackson falls as the second contest of a 12-bout card and airs only via UFC Fight Pass, but has gotten as much attention as any other matchup.

That’s because of the bold opportunism Gall used to make the leap to fighting’s big leagues so quickly. When he found out UFC President Dana White would be in attendance at his first fight filming an episode of the YouTube show “Lookin’ for a Fight” last November, Gall decided to call out former WWE star CM Punk.

Gall knew Punk, who’s real name is Phil Brooks, had signed with the UFC and needed an equally green opponent for his first fight.

“I thought definitely less than 50 percent,” Gall said of the chances of his callout working. “I was tossing up a Hail Mary a little bit. Dana White’s here, and immediately, I had to make the most of it. That was the only guy I could fight.”

Now all Gall must do to get to Punk is defeat Jackson, who’s perhaps the only fighter in UFC history with less experience than him. Jackson has never fought professionally.

While Gall was hauling bread, the 30-year-old Jackson was taking photos and writing stories for his own MMA website. Jackson joked he was also “a career student” after spending the last 12 years in college before graduating from the University of Houston in 2015.

“I was thinking about going to back to graduate school for (expletive) and giggles,” Jackson said. “But then the UFC called, so I thought, ‘I’ll do this instead.’”

The UFC found Jackson through Legacy Fighting Championships, where he had done photography work. He had trained with Legacy officials while amassing one amateur MMA bout and a couple pro boxing fights.

White hasn’t made the same promise to Jackson of a victory leading to a fight with CM Punk. But Jackson is operating under the assumption that he can earn the same prize as Gall.

“I’ve got to go in here and grab this dude’s golden ticket,” Jackson said. “That’s what I like to do. I like being the troll so to speak.”

Gall won’t make it easy. Jackson was considering starting his pro MMA career with a couple fights this year, while Gall has chased his for eight years.

A standout athlete as a linebacker and captain of the football team at Watchung Hills High School in Warren, N.J., Gall expressed interest in fighting to his father at 16-years-old. Some parents may dissuade their children from the sport, but Gall’s father drove him to try it.

“I had been talking about wanting to do jiu-jitsu, and he found a place and made me go,” Gall said. “I was kind of nervous the first day, but I was so happy I did it.”

Before long, Gall was visiting the gym owned by UFC veterans Jim Miller and Dan Miller every day. He joined the wrestling team in his senior year of high school.

When it became time to pick a college, Gall chose Rutgers solely so he could stay on the same training regimen with the same coaches.

“Every step I took was to bring this dream to fruition,” Gall said.

Many have criticized the UFC for signing CM Punk, and consequently, Gall and Jackson. The accusation is that the promotion is now actively engaging in the type of sideshow entertainment it used to consciously avoid.

But Gall predicts those objections won’t last for long. He’s geared his entire life around making it as a legitimate fighter.

“I don’t think I’ll be remembered for fighting CM Punk,” Gall said. “I know I won’t be. I’m going to be a UFC fighter. I plan to be UFC champion.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.