Paul Heyman: CM Punk accepts he might get beat up in UFC, still man enough to take the chance

For former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) mega star, CM Punk, getting the opportunity to compete for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) isn't about trying to make the next buck or three. It's more a bout fulfilling a lifelong dream, which is to compete at the highest level in a sport not many men -- or women -- are willing to try their hand at.

That's according to Paul Heyman, Punk's longtime friend, mentor and all-around wrestling legend, who recently appeared on The Steve Austin Show (via FOX Sports) to talk about his friends transition into mixed martial arts (MMA) and where his love for fighting all began.

Check it out:

"I don't think money is the motivating factor in CM Punk's life whatsoever. I think it's the challenge to do this. This is something he's been eyeballing since he was a kid and I think he looks back and he probably regrets not getting into it five or six years earlier, but this was the time to pull the trigger on it."

Punk's chance to compete under the UFC banner was met with heavy criticism by current fighters on the roster. Mainly because the former WWE star has no experience to his credit ... not even at the amateur level.

That's the reason many believe he will be in for a rude awakening when he eventually makes his Octagon debut later this year.

Something that's not lost on Punk, according to Heyman, because he is very aware that the chances of him going in and shocking the MMA community with an impressive win are just as great as him going in and getting beatdown.

"I think he firmly believes he is either going to step in that Octagon and shock everybody by beating somebody's ass or he's going to get punched in the face and knocked out or tapped out and beat up and I think that he's very accepting of the fact that that's a possibility. He's man enough to walk in there and take his chances."

Roddy piper agrees.

As far as when, where and against who Punk makes his UFC/MMA debut, that's still up in the air. But, if you want to know before the rest of the world does, all you have to do is ask "The Bad Guy."