It’s been nearly two years in the making, but the debut of CM Punk is almost here.

After several false starts, CM Punk will take on Mickey Gall at UFC 203 on September 10 at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena. Since day one of training, the former WWE star has been under the guidance of Duke Roufus at Roufusport Kickboxing and has been the subject of a documentary called the ‘Evolution of Punk’.

Speaking to Brian Stann during the UFC On Fox 21 show this past weekend, Punk admitted there had been difficulties, but that he was finally ready for his big night at UFC 203.

“I’m the kind of guy that’s never going to be happy because I’m always striving to be better than I am,” Punk said. “I think that’s why I love MMA so much. For a first fight, I think I’m definitely where I need to be, and I’m satisfied with my skill level and everything.”

Having performed on massive stages like WrestleMania before, Punk said it won’t be the pressure of the occasion making him nervous, but more the fact he is in a real fight, and that anything could happen.

“I think I’ll have nerves because I’m about to fight, but I don’t think it will have anything to do with the capacity of the crowd, cameras, bright lights or people booing or cheering or anything like that,” Punk said. “My jitters will be more—I’m fighting, what exactly am I doing with my life right now? I’m sure that will come and go.”

His opponent on September 10, Mickey Gall, has been outspoken in recent weeks saying that he will make Punk regret making the cross over from professional wrestling to MMA; and that Punk’s time in the spotlight is done. Punk didn’t seem to be fazed by Gall’s trash talking and instead, simply brushed it off saying that he would’ve expected Gall to say nothing less.

“Sweet—he’s supposed to say stuff like that,” Punk said nonchalantly. “That’s the fun thing about what we are going to do, we are going to punch each other in the face and see who the better man is. I’m not doing this to try and be a star, I’m doing this because I want to do it and I was afforded an opportunity—I would’ve been a fool to say no.

“It sounds like he’s getting mixed up in his own head and that’s an opportunity for me.”

Given that Punk has no amateur background or previous competitive combat sports experience, one advantage he has walking into the Octagon on September 10 are that his abilities and fighting style are a total enigma. He did, however, give a little insight as to what to expect from him in his debut.

“I think for me, it’s going to be all about pressure,” Punk said. “You don’t really get to see anything from Mickey in his fights because they’ve all ended very quickly. No one has really pressured him or put him in uncomfortable places and that’s what I plan on doing.”