It looks like fans will have to wait a little longer for former WWE Superstar CM Punk’s UFC debut.

Punk, real name Phil Brooks, told MMAFighting.com that surgery on a herniated disc in his back will keep him out of action for four to six months.

“My back has always bugged me,” Brooks told MMAFighting. “Figured it was just wrestling s**t. Turns out it was.

“It got bad enough to the point where I couldn’t do anything the week before I went to train with the New Jersey Devils last month. One day I could manage. The next day I couldn’t. I’ve been in agony for almost a month. Chiropractor, acupuncture, massage, cryotherapy – nothing worked.”

Brooks (0-0), who has been training under the tutelage of Duke Roufus and the rest of Roufussport for the last year, was scheduled to face Micky Gall on a future UFC card this summer. However, these plans will have to be put on hold until late 2016.

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José began his career as a mixed martial arts journalist while still enrolled at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University. Since graduating in May 2013, he has attended dozens of high profile UFC fight cards as a credentialed member of the media, providing live cage side coverage through his articles and videos. His work has appeared on UFC.com, ArizonaSports.com and AZCentral. He is also currently one of the main contributors on Power MMA Show at Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, one of the first all MMA radio shows on a major radio station.