CM Punk is set to transition from wrestling to UFC and Bobby Lashley -- who competes for TNA and Bellator MMA -- believes that the "Best in the World" will "do great" in the Octagon.
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Punk, who quit the WWE last January, signed with UFC in December after bashing the WWE on Colt Cabana's podcast and he is set to debut later this year.
Lashley told GiveMeSport.com that he believes Punk will do fine when he debuts for UFC.
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"I think he'll do great, he's had plenty of time to train," Lashley told the site. "Once he has got all of the training in. I believe he'll go out there and show the crowd that he is ready for it and I think he'll earn a lot of respect for doing it. I know a lot of people will be watching, I know I will."
Punk said he will never have a working relationship with the WWE again and he is preparing for his Octagon debut, which should occur in 6-7 months.
Lashley got his start in the WWE and transferred over to TNA, which just had its flagship show Impact Wrestling change networks from Spike TV to Destination America.
Lashley talked about TNA competing with the WWE and what it can do to expand the wrestling market.
"I think right now that we're building in the right direction and I don't want to say they are declining but they are at a bit of a standstill," Lashley said. "Getting mixed reactions, while that's happening, we're rising up. I think that in the future it will get to a point where there will be a little bit more competition between the two."
Lashley started out in the WWE in 2004 and stayed with the company through 2008, becoming a one-time United States Champion and two-time ECW Champion.
Lashley also has had two stints with TNA, from 2008-09 and his current run that began last year. Lashley is a two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion and continues to compete for Bellator.
Lastly, Lashley talked about the differences as a wrestler working in TNA and the WWE.
"You know here I like the cohesive unit and everyone is on the same page, no real back stabbing and none of that politics that usually go on, especially in the wrestling business," he said. "I know that everyone coming here is like, 'we're about to blow this show outta there.' Everyone is on the same page with that. People will enjoy the things we do and in the long run they'll be a shift."
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