With former champions/big time pay-per-view draws Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre on the shelf for a significant portion of 2014, the UFC could really use the presence of a proven box office draw right about now.

Does the name Brock Lesnar ring a bell?

UFC President Dana White recently confirmed various media reports that he was indeed in negotiations with the former heavyweight champion, according to a tweet sent out by the LA Times Lance Pugmire on Monday afternoon.

“@danawhite told me last week he was "talking" to @DCBROCKLESNAR but wouldn't announce anything until a signing,” Pugmire wrote.

Lesnar retired from the sport of professional mixed martial arts in December 2011, after suffering a brutal TKO loss at the hands of ex-Strikeforce/K-1 champ Alistair Overeem at UFC 141.

The bout marked the second time in a row Lesnar had been stopped by strikes, dropping the heavyweight strap to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in October 2010.

Lesnar’s career inside the cage had a question mark hanging over it considering the fact that he had to be treated with the intestinal disease on two separate occasions, the second of which necessitating the removal of 12 inches of his colon.

Since hanging up the gloves, Lesnar has been competing in the WWE on a part-time basis.

While several pro wrestling and MMA media outlets have reported that Lesnar’s current deal with the WWE is exclusive, White attempting to work out a deal with his ex-champ would seem to suggest otherwise.

Will the UFC be able to come to terms with Lesnar, who headlined the biggest selling event in company history (UFC 100), or are his fighting days truly behind him?