'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Since Alberto Del Rio, now known by his original moniker Alberto El Patron was unceremoniously kicked out of the WWE, he returned to his roots of Lucha Libre.
He is a legend in Lucha Libre circles and is doing pretty good for himself at Lucha Underground and AAA.
In a recent interview, he spoke about his upcoming role as a color commentator for the new MMA series Combate Americas, which launches on NBC Universo this Thursday, September 17th at 11 pm ET/8 pm PT from The D in Las Vegas. Patron, who has a decent MMA background and record of 9-5, also spoke about the possibility of facing Punk in the UFC among other topics. Below are the highlights from the interview:
On the upcoming MMA series and his role as a commentator
Alberto is very excited about his first stint as an announcer and says, “I'm starting with them this Thursday, it's going to be Mexican Independence Day, so we're going to celebrate this with a series of fights. There are going to be other celebrities from Latin America there, and I'm really excited about it."
On CM Punk signing with the UFC
Contrary to public opinion that Punk would never make it into the octagon, Alberto says he thinks Punk is actually taking this new path in his career seriously and credited Punk for being a good athlete who has been training for a while.
"Even before he left WWE, he was already doing jiu-jitsu and Thai boxing. He was just doing it to be in shape, back then he didn't know that he was going to be in the UFC one day. Now he's taking his time and he's getting ready. He's smart. I'm sure the promoters would like to put him in the cage already because they know he's going to sell PPVs,” says Patron.
Alberto says Phil is a smart person and says, “He's going to be for sure. There are people saying that he's not going to fight, and it was just a promotion to get people to watch UFC, but it's not. He's fighting for sure. I can't tell you the specific date, because I know he's getting ready and he wants to do well. He wants to have a career in MMA.”
On the possibility of returning to MMA and facing Punk in his UFC debut
It all comes down do the money says Alberto and is up for it if the UFC offer him the right amount. He says, “The offers I received from all of the organizations are so ridiculous that I didn't even think about it. It's really good money for the fighters, because I know what fighters do every time they fight, but I do so well in pro wrestling, why would I do something like that if I'm making the same money for pro wrestling appearances?"
The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion in the meanwhile is enjoying his time in pro-wrestling in the very impressive Lucha Underground.
