(This story appears in today’s edition of USA TODAY.)

If history is any indicator, the first Monday of the new year brought no shortage of new sign-ups at gyms all around America. But at the Roufusport fight gym in Milwaukee, one new member is already making waves in the MMA world, despite the fact that he’s never had a single fight.

Former professional wrestler and WWE superstar Phil “CM Punk” Brooks made headlines when he signed with the UFC in December, and he recently announced that he’ll prepare for his debut in the sport by training at the gym owned and operated by former kickboxing champion Duke Roufus, who’s also the longtime coach of UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.

According to Roufus, he met Brooks through mutual friends approximately two years ago, and he’s been discussing the prospect of becoming his trainer ever since it became clear that Brooks was serious about making the move to MMA.

“I know he’s wanted to do this for a while, and I know he loves martial arts,” Roufus tells USA TODAY Sports and MMAjunkie. “It’s just been a passion of his, and I respect it so much because he’s leaving the friendly confines of his world to come into the MMA world. That’s not easy.”

It’s also not a guaranteed formula for success. At 36, and with little in the way of fight training beyond some recreational martial arts experience, Brooks likely has a lot to learn before he can safely step in the cage on the sport’s biggest stage. And if it turns out that Brooks doesn’t have what it takes to be a fighter, Roufus says, the veteran coach will have no problem telling him that.

“We’re friends first, and we wouldn’t be friends if he couldn’t take an honest answer,” Roufus says. “But I’m not going to be putting him in with my team just yet. I’m going to do what I’ve done with some of my athletes in the past, which is build him from the ground up. His first sparring session will be with me, and I’ve been doing martial arts since I was 4, so I have incredible control. I can score on him but not hurt him. I can teach him, which is the first stage.”

Complicating matters, however, is that the gym is also home to former Olympic wrestler and ex-Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren, who was one of the most outspoken critics of the UFC’s decision to sign a pro wrestler with no MMA experience. In fact, Askren (14-0) says, the tweet he sent out mocking the signing the night the UFC announced it was his “most retweeted post ever,” which at least tells him that fans are interested in Brooks’ move to the UFC, whether they’re in favor of it or not.

But, Askren insists, he harbors no ill will toward his new teammate, even if he doesn’t agree with the UFC’s decision to add him to the roster even while UFC President Dana White continues to tell fans that Askren himself isn’t worthy of a spot in the organization.

“What’s between me and the UFC is totally separate from ‘CM Punk,’” Askren says. “He’s just a guy who had a great opportunity presented to him, and he took it. What type of person wouldn’t take the opportunity if he wanted it just because it might make other people feel bad?”

Roufus certainly has no concerns that Askren and Brooks won’t manage to play nice together. He says he discussed the situation with Brooks before bringing him onto the team, just to make sure there’s no friction between the pro wrestler and the man who serves as the team’s official wrestling coach.

“(Brooks) gets it,” Roufus says. “He thinks Ben should be in the UFC too. But that’s between the UFC and Ben. The best thing about this situation is, whether you’re for it or against it, it’s creating a buzz outside the MMA industry, and that’s a positive. A high tide raises all ships.”

But just because he’s not worried about the gym dynamic, that doesn’t mean there’s no cause for concern on Roufus’ end. Brooks has talked openly in the past about the physical damage and the concussions he suffered during his pro wrestling career, and to Roufus that merits keeping an eye on once he moves into a sport where people are actually trying to knock him out.

“I’m honestly very concerned about that,” Roufus says. “Those (pro wrestler) guys, especially before they become big, big stars, they go 300 days a year. You’re out there doing a show whether you’ve been knocked out or hurt or whatever. It’s not a sport, but it’s entertainment. And sometimes they’re harder on entertainers in this world than they are on athletes.”

Still, Roufus doesn’t think it’s out of the question for Brooks to make significant gains as a fighter in a short period of time. He even thinks there’s an encouraging precedent with the UFC’s long-running reality TV show.

“With ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ you see a lot of guys who come on that show, come in really raw, they actually have bad habits, which is worse,” Roufus says. “Then after the show they move to a new camp, usually somebody they were coached by on the show, and that’s when the magic starts to happen. We’re going to see that same formula here, but without the cameras on him.”

As for Askren, he admits he doesn’t want to know the new guy at the gym, and isn’t totally sure what to expect from him just yet.

“But if Duke says he’s a good guy, I’ll take Duke’s word for it,” Askren says. “Hopefully he’s friendly and ready to work hard.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.