Exclusive: UFC 203's CM Punk Talks Brock Lesnar's Failed Drug Tests

MILWAUKEE- Many triešŸŒ d, but few were able to succeed in a transitiš“€on between WWE the way Brock Lesnar did, and CM Punk took note.Ā 

Lesnar made hišŸ§œs professional debut in 2007 and in only his second professional fight, made his UFC debut at UFC 81 in Feb. 2008 against Frank Mir.Ā In only his fourth career fight, LesnarĀ stopped Randy Couture at UFC 91 in Nov. 2008 to become the UFC heavyweight ź¦”champion.Ā 

Ciryl Gane Bidding to Be Back in Heavyweight Title Picture at UFC 310

No one else had made the jump from the world of sports entertainment šŸ²to the Octagon since Lesnar. Untiź¦…l now.

Former WWE champion CM Punk announced in DešŸŒŗcember ofĀ 2014 that he had a signed a deal with the UFC, even though he had no prior training or fight exš’ƒperience. HeĀ will be making his long awaitedĀ UFC debut at UFC 203 against Mickey Gall.Ā 

LesnarĀ returned to WWE in 2012Ā after retiring from the UFCą¶£ after his loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141Ā through mutual friend and Lesnar associate, Paul Heyman, where he crossed paths with then-wrestling superstar Punk.Ā After a four-year hiatus, LesnarĀ returned to the UFC to face Mark Hunt at UFC 200. "The Beast Incarnate" controlled the fight and won by ušŸŒŗnanimous decision. Then, it all went downhill for Lesnar.

Shortly after the fight, it was revealed LesnarĀ had failed his pre-and post-fight drug tests forĀ hydroxy-clomiphešŸ”Æne whichĀ stymies the production of estrogen to stimulate natural testosterone production. It is commonly used as post-cycle therapyš“†‰ for those coming off of anabolic steroids.

šŸ¦‚Punk, real name is Phil Brooks lives the straight-edge lifestyle -- no drugs, tobacco or alcohol. While heĀ thought Lesnar looked great against Hunt, PunkĀ wasn't happy though with the aftermath ofĀ seeing a failed drug testĀ happen to someone he's friendly with.

"I think it sucks," Punk told Fightful during his UFC 203 Media Day.Ā "I do. I get tested by USADA all the time and Iā€™m the drug free kid and ź¦æI still get nervous (laughs). Itā€™s like when you are driving on the highway and the copā€™s behind you and youā€™re like, ā€œOh I wasnā€™t speeding anš’†™d my taillights arenā€™t outā€.

"I like what they are doing with the sport. That whole thing bums me out. He came back. He fought an impressive fight, he won and he fails a test. It bums me out. It bums me out whenšŸŒ³ anyone fails a test."

Since Lesnar faią·“led the test, Punk was lumped in with the fellow pro-wrestler, and the subsequent 'steroid' stereotype.Ā The Chicago native debunkedĀ theĀ myth and turned the table on the matą± ter.

"Look at me and look at the guys who have failed tests," Punk said.Ā "Iā€™m the skinny, fat kid from Chicago. I donā€™t think it reflects on me at all. If it reflects on meāœƒ, itā€™s because Iā€™mā™Œ a fighter in the UFC."

When Punk first announced his new mixed martial artsĀ venture, one of the first people he reached out to was Lesnar. Since then, Punk hasn't heard from Lesnar,Ā and thinks it's due to embattled star moving to the middle of nowhere in Canaļ·½da.Ā 

"Nah," Punk said.Ā "He reached out and offered his help and support. He gave me the thumbs up and said reach out if you have stupid questions, go aheadā™ and ask me. He lives in the middle of nowhere, like in Saskatchewan. I think I texted him once and it bounced back to me right away. I didnā€™t expect him to get back to me right away. Heā€™s like combining on the faą¶£rm somewhere."

LesšŸ’®narĀ returns to the WWE on SeptemberĀ 24 at a WWE live event in a Summerslam rematch against Randy Orton.Ā UFC 203 takes place Saturday from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The venueĀ was the last time Punk made an appearanceĀ under the WWE umbrella.Ā at main event features Stipe Miocic defending the UFC heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem.Ā 

Get exclusive pro wrestling content on Fightful Select, our premium news service! .