ESPN Mixed Martial Arts

The past few weeks have been trying ones for the UFC. A war of words between the UFC's top brass and former UFC poster boy Randy Couture continues to boil and one of MMA's top heavyweights, Fedor Emelianenko, opted to join another organization.

But while Couture and Emelianenko won't be plying their trade in an Octagon any time soon, the UFC has acquired a big-name fighter who they hope will fill the void.

Lesnar is best known for the four years he spent with World Wrestling Entertainment where the 6-foot-2, NCAA wrestling standout captured the WWE championship belt three times while antagonizing fans and fellow fighters alike.

After an unsuccessful attempt at a pro football career, Lesnar made his professional MMA debut this past June, defeating Min Soo Kim in just over a minute with a single-leg takedown, followed by a ferocious ground-and-pound submission.

For Lesnar, the UFC marks the next chapter in an athletic career that now spans four sports. The UFC hopes that Lesnar will draw the same pay-per-view audiences he did for pro wrestling, and that he'll live up to his "The Next Big Thing" moniker.

Lesnar checked in for an exclusive interview with ESPN.com.

Andrew Falzon: How did all of this come about with the UFC, did you reach out to Dana White or did White reach out to you?

Brock Lesnar: There was interest from both parties. I'm not sure where the initial phone call came from or what it was about. I think what got the ball rolling was we went to the Randy Couture fight and had a meeting with White.

AF: Why the interest in MMA and the choice to leave professional wrestling?

BL: If this opportunity was available to me when I got out of college, I probably would have chosen this route instead of professional wrestling. But at the time, I had a really good offer on the table to be a pro wrestler and the MMA industry wasn't as big as it is now.

AF: Has the UFC given you a timetable yet for your first fight?

BL: There's been talk about February. We're really hoping we can lock down a date and an opponent soon but right now, both are up in the air. It's something we'd rather do sooner than later. That way, I can specify my training needs and know who I'm training for.

AF: You have an extensive amateur wrestling background. What new skills are you incorporating into your game?

BL: Combat submission wrestling and jiu-jitsu; I'm also working on my stand-up game like boxing, punching and muay thai. Today's fighter has to be well-rounded. I've said it numerous times: I can't rely solely on my wrestling skills. This is a sport where you have to be well-rounded in just about everything.

AF: Do you have any idea who your first opponent will be?

BL: At this time, no. The UFC has some things going on with Couture right now and I'm sure they're busy with that. Hopefully by the end of next week we'll know something. I'll fight whoever they put in front of me.

AF: In an earlier interview you said you'd like to fight Couture and Fedor Emelianenko. Is that something you'd still like to explore?

BL: Back when I made those statements, Couture was the UFC champion and Emelianenko was in talks with the UFC. So right now, I'm going to take it one fight at a time and work my way up to becoming the UFC heavyweight champion.

AF: Will fans see a more well-rounded Lesnar than the "ground-and-pound" fighter that defeated Min Soo Kim?

BL: I don't know what's going to happen. Every fight is different and each opponent is different. The opportunity that Kim gave me was he offered me a leg. I took him down, mounted him and ended it with punches. I just want to be prepared that if he offers me an arm, to submit him in that area or if we stay on our feet, to throw a knockout punch.

AF: What has the transition from pro wrestling to MMA been like, with pro wrestling being scripted and MMA being legitimate competition?

BL: Well, it hasn't been much different. My grass roots is wrestling. I'm used to the competitive side of things. I treated my pro wrestling matches as a competition as well. I think that's what separated me from a lot of different guys. A lot of guys I worked against had probably never even been in a fight or a competitive sport other than football. Other than Kurt Angle and a few other guys.

AF: You've said that you feel there's a "dark cloud" over your head because of your pro wrestling background. Do you think that cloud still exists?

BL: Absolutely; I think there's still my mystique involved in whether I can fight or not. That's why I'm eager to get up on the big stage and prove myself in the UFC. Having said that, I'm sure I'll pull some people in to become fans for the UFC. The pro wrestling fans are going to be able to watch. I'm trying to do all the right things to prepare myself to become a UFC champion.

AF: A former colleague of yours, Kurt Angle, has also been rumored to be interested in competing in MMA. Why do you think there's such a draw for amateur wrestlers who have become pro wrestlers to compete as mixed martial artists?

BL: Because of our extensive amateur background. For me, I wasn't enjoying myself as a pro wrestler. I tried the pro football thing. But this is more natural. I can convert my [amateur] wrestling very well. I couldn't convert my wrestling into this very well, where I couldn't covert my wrestling to become a pro football player. If there's any pro wrestlers getting into this sport they better be well prepared and have some other credentials besides being a pro wrestler.

AF: What do you say to fans who think you're in over your head?

BL: Sit back and wait to be proven wrong. This is very serious for me. People don't really understand that yes, I was a pro wrestler. But I was also an NCAA champion and I've been training MMA for almost two years now. It's no different than these other guys who have been training jiu-jitsu for 10 years and decide to get in the fight game. I was an amateur wrester for 18 years. Why wouldn't I qualify for this?

AF: Back in your WWE days, you were nicknamed the Next Big Thing. The UFC is hoping that you'll be just that. Will you be announced as the Next Big Thing in the Octagon?

BL: No, it's just Brock Lesnar from now on.

Andrew Falzon is a freelance reporter and has written blogs for several MMA Web sites.