WWE legend Kurt Angle has revealed that he came close to joining the UFC on two different occasions.

The 1996 Olympic gold medalist – and four time WWE champion – has previously spoken about his desire to dip his toes in the world of Mixed Martial Arts and while the 46-year-old admits the opportunity for him to put his shoot fighting skills to the test has passed, UFC president Dana White did his best to get Angle into the Octagon.

The current TNA superstar told the world about his brush with UFC during an appearance on The MMA Hour:

"I've had meetings with them all in MMA, World Series, Elite XC, twice with UFC. Whether it was the money or the timing wasn't right, it didn't happen. I considered going until I turned 42. When I met with Dana White, he wanted me to quit wrestling entirely, but I had just signed with TNA. I met with Dana the same week and he said I needed to quit wrestling. I couldn't tell [TNA owner] Dixie Carter I wanted to back out. The second time I met with Dana, I took the physical. He wanted me to do The Ultimate Fighter with Kimbo [Slice]. He was great. He was willing to pay me a good bit of money to be on the show. But he wanted me ready in four-and-a-half weeks. It just wasn't in the cards. I think it would have been great TV. He was willing to sign me to a six-fight deal after the show, but he wanted me on the show. But it wasn't going to happen in four-and-a-half weeks."

Angle made a cameo appearance as an MMA fighter in 2011 film "Warrior," starring Tom Hardy.

Angle's vision of the past is in contrast to a story told by Dana White, who has previously said that Kurt failed to join the UFC only because he couldn't pass the medical.

[via Bloody Elbow]