Could a former two-time NCAA heavyweight champion be on the verge of crossing over to mixed martial arts? If sources are to be believed, yes.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com has learned that Cole Konrad, who finished first in the NCAAs in 2006 and 2007 in the 285 lbs. division and proceeded Brock Lesnar on the University of Minnesota wrestling team, is set to make his MMA debut early this year. And according to sources close to the fighter, his debut could come as soon as this month.

While Conrad’s entry into professional mixed martial arts may sound rushed, the 26-year old Wisconsin native has actually been training MMA for the past two years. Soon after Marty Morgan resigned as a coach with the University of Minnesota wrestling team to join Lesnar as his full-time wrestling coach, he recruited Konrad to serve as a full-time training partner to the current UFC heavyweight champion.

After college, the four-time All-American’s initial goal was to follow in the footsteps of fellow former NCAA heavyweight champion and current New England Patriots All-Pro OL Stephen Neal and make it in the NFL. Despite not having played football in college, Konrad was invited to try out for the New York Jets prior to the 2008 regular season.

Now a full-time resident of Minnesota, Konrad splits his time training at Greg Nelson’s Minnesota Martial Arts Academy in Minneapolis and also at Lesnar’s home training facility in Alexandria, Minn. In addition to training with Lesnar and also sharing a similar pedigree, Konrad is also co-managed by Lesnar’s manager, Brian Stegeman.

Sources also have revealed to FiveOuncesOfPain.com that Konrad is already drawing significant interest from both DREAM in the United States as well as the upstart Bellator Fighting Championships, which could conduct its first-ever heavyweight tournament this August.

(Props: Fiveouncesofpain.com)

Konrad won a gold medal at the 2005 Pan-American Championships. He also won the NCAA wrestling championships in 2006 and 2007 at 285 pounds and finished third at the 2006 World University Championships at 120 kilograms. Many believe wrestling is one of the best if not best pedigree to transition into MMA  and I'm going to keep my eye on Cole, I beleive he may be a name we hear in the future. And you know if he trains with Lesnar he trains as hard as anyone, will he be a Lesnar? I doubt it Lesnar is one of a kind but i beleive Cole with the help of Lesnars camp will be a force in the future.