UFC president Dana White interested in talking to CM Punk about possible UFC career

Dana White was in New York City for the special UFC-Reebok partnership, and TMZ was in the area to catch up with the UFC president to ask him about the possibility of retired WWE star CM Punk joining the UFC roster next year. While White isn't sure that Punk, who parted ways with the WWE earlier this year, is contractually able to fight inside the Octagon, he does admit an interest in at least talking to him:

"I don't know if he can fight or anything like that ," White said ... "but sure, I wouldn't mind talking to CM Punk."

The messy relationship between the 36-year-old and the WWE ended in a legal settlement over the summer, and according to him he has no desire to return to pro wrestling right now. CM Punk trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Rener Gracie and is a longtime fan of MMA, even going as far as to re-enact the failed Chael Sonnen spinning backfist vs. Anderson Silva during a 2012 episode of Monday Night Raw. One important piece to the legal settlement is that he doesn't have a non-compete clause, which should make him fair game for any MMA organization to sign him.

White was also asked about the prospects of luring Brock Lesnar back to MMA after the former UFC heavyweight champion retired from the sport and returned to the WWE, where he is their reigning heavyweight champ.

"If and when his deal if up with them and he wants to fight, I'm, sure he'll call me."

Lesnar's contract with the WWE ends after WrestleMania XXXI, which is scheduled for March 29th, 2015.

I think this tweet from Jeremy Botter is a perfect summation of the MMA free agent landscape:

The 2 biggest MMA free agents of 2015 are both professional wrestlers: Brock Lesnar and CM Punk.

— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) December 4, 2014

Watch CM Punk talk to MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani: