Dana White on Brock Lesnar's UFC return: 'If he wants to fight, he knows my number'

It has been almost three years since Brock Lesnar bowed out of mixed martial arts (MMA) competition after losing by technical knockout to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141. But the former UFC heavyweight champion and pay-per-view (PPV) behemoth's name has come up several times recently, due to the fact that his WWE contract is coming to an end and he appears to be in good health.

Lesnar, of course, struggled with diverticulitis throughout his UFC tenure, and many an expert has opined that the disease changed the fighter for the worse, even after he overcame a serious bout with the sickness and returned after a layoff to defeat Shane Carwin at UFC 116.

The Lesnar that took out Randy Couture for the title at UFC 91 and battered Frank Mir at UFC 100 seemed to have vanished in the title-losing fight against Cain Velasquez and was all but gone in the loss to Overeem. And the disease likely had a hand in that.

Recently, former WWE broadcaster Jim Ross told FOX Sports that the former UFC heavyweight champion looks like he has "gotten back on track" and he sees no reason why Lesnar "couldn't have the potential to return to the UFC and sell pay-per-views."

UFC president Dana White still has an open line of communication with Lesnar and on the most recent edition of "The Download" on UFC.com, he said if Lesnar wants back, then he can call him to discuss it.

"I have a great relationship with Brock, we talk all the time," White said. "I don't know, we'll see. If he wants to fight he knows my number."

White has always marveled at how well Lesnar did in the UFC against top competition without any prior fighting experience, on top of battling a sometimes crippling disease. Now that Lesnar appears to be 100-percent healthy again, White is intrigued at the possibilities should the former champion return to the Octagon.

"It's pretty amazing what he did and accomplished here while having diverticulitis," he said. "It would be interesting to see a 100-percent healthy Brock Lesnar compete."

There would be a number of interesting match ups for Lesnar should he return. A trilogy fight against Frank Mir, or a rematch opposite Alistair Overeem would be entertaining. So would a rematch against Shane Carwin, who recently said he would come out of retirement to fight Lesnar if he returned to action.

Lesnar's PPV numbers would still be huge, even after a three-year layoff and it would give the heavyweight division a nice shot in the arm. Something it could sorely use since Cain Velasquez is injured and out of UFC 180 (details) and most likely won't be back until next spring.