Long before they ever set foot in the UFC, CM Punk and Brock Lesnar were World Wrestling Entertainment superstars.
Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, is in the process of making the same transition over to mixed martial arts from professional wrestling as Lesnar did in 2007. Now, as the former WWE champion prepares for his first MMA fight, Lesnar is there to lend a helping hand.
"I've talked to him [Brock] and he's offered all his help, even if it's just bug him with a stupid question," Punk told Wisconsin's WISports (h/t MMA Fighting). "It's cool to know he supports me. He's a good guy to know, I think."
The former UFC heavyweight champion rose to the top of 265-pound ranks quickly, earning a shot at then-titleholder Randy Couture's thrown after two Octagon appearances. Lesnar defended his title twice against Shane Carwin and Frank Mir but had his career cut short after battling the intestinal disorder diverticulitis.
Lesnar knew how to command an audience and was every bit showman as he was a freakishly athletic wrestler. His name alone would end up drawing more interest to a rapidly growing UFC fanbase.
Lesnar's post-fight rant at UFC 100 is still one of the more everlasting moments of his brief Octagon run.
However, as much as a fighter can benefit from a microphone these days, one can't succeed simply off the ferocity of his or her words. They need to earn it in the months it takes to ready oneself for battle.
Still, the Chicagoan recognizes the crossover between pro wrestling and MMA.
"The characters, the action, the media, the mouths," said Punk. "There's a reason people are interested in this."
He, just as Punk will be in the future, was subjected to criticism of whether he rightfully belonged in the sport. Lesnar came into the UFC a choreographed WWE talent, and NFL washout, with only one professional fight to his credit.
Should Punk lose in his debut, as Lesnar did against Mir at UFC 81, then he will only have given skeptics more ammunition. Establishing the lines of communication with Lesnar, who has seen the scrutiny, will aid Punk in his mission to prove MMA pundits wrong.
Though his NCAA Division I wrestling background proved helpful in his transition into MMA, Lesnar needed a team full of experienced striking and jiu-jitsu coaches to truly excel in the sport. Punk recently begun training with former K1 kickboxer and head coach of the Milwaukee-based Roufusport MMA Academy Duke Roufus in January.
Fighters who also call Roufusport home are UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, Tyron Woodley and One FC welterweight titleholder Ben Askren. Punk has already managed to impress his Wisconsin comrades.
"CM Punk is awesome. He's in there 3 days a week, an hour early to every practice. He's a student of the sport," Woodley told Inside MMA. "He's doing private lessons, 12 to 14 of them a week."
The 36-year-old first signed with the UFC in December and is now over a month into his preparation. Roufus, who spoke to Inside MMA in January, stated that Punk thus far has been "easy to mold" and called him a "sponge."
Punk won't risk not being ready for his eventual debut, even if it meant fighting in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois at UFC on Fox 16 in July. As for when his first foray into the Octagon might be, he had this to tell WIsports.com:
"Five more months we're going to sit down and we're going to talk, and we're going to see where my weight's at, we're going to see how I feel. It's no longer just up to me. It's up to my coaches. This is just a guess, October, November, December. But we'll see. I'm fully aware it could be later than that, could be earlier than that."
A definitive weight class hasn't been chosen yet by the Chicago native although signs have pointed towards a venture at middleweight.
Punk has long been a fan of MMA and is knowledgeable of the various arts. He has a background in kempo karate, muay thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
He has also worked with renowned BJJ practitioner and close friend Rener Gracie sporadically over the last several years during his hectic schedule wrestling in the WWE. Gracie spoke confidently about Punk's potential in MMA before he ever signed with the UFC.
"With the little time he's had with me spread out over so many years, he's made remarkable progress. If he dedicates himself full-time, there is no limit," Gracie told Fox Sports in January 2014.
Punk brings forth some of the necessary tools to compete in the cage and some of the intangibles that make him such an appealing figure. He has dabbled in the intricacies of MMA before, and with a solid foundation around him at Roufusport, it won't be long before Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer is introducing the man we all know to be CM Punk.
