After spending almost a full 24 hours in the emergency room, Shane Carwin updated his personal blog for the first time since UFC 131.
This writer personally recommends reading Carwin’s latest post in its entirety, but Bloody Elbow took the time to find some of the most relevant excerpts.
Speaking about the opening round, Carwin explained:
“As the fight started I just did not feel like myself, I wasn’t able to get my feet moving and Junior capitalized quickly.”
He continued: “As he was pummeling me I kept trying to find a way to defend myself so Herb would not stop the fight. Junior was landing solid shots and that is where probably he broke my nose.”
Nothing too earth shattering there, as that is probably the exact same thoughts that anyone watching the fight had.
Speaking about the end of the fight, and Junior dos Santos in general, Carwin reflected that:
“The end of the fight was pretty much a blur. Junior was a better fighter than I was last night. His boxing was better and he used his boxing to take me out of the fight. I have nothing but respect for Junior and his camp. He deserves the title shot.”
Considering no one ever hurt Carwin even half as bad as JDS did at UFC 131, it is no surprise dos Santos is receiving praise from his most recent opponent.
However, the most thought provoking portion of Carwin’s blog comes from when he was discussing the second and third round of the main event fight.
“After the second round I knew I was in trouble. My nose made it impossible to breathe, my eyes were full of blood and Junior was still coming at me. When the ref stopped the fight in the third, I thought it was over.
“When the doctor came in the octagon I knew it was going to be up to me to sell them on letting me continue.”
So does that mean that Carwin pulled a fast one on the ringside doctor?
“I knew I was in deep trouble but I also knew that all I needed was one clean shot. I wanted to keep myself in the fight. I wasn’t able to see but I said I could and we continued.”
This is not all that shocking, especially considering the heart that Carwin showed in soldiering on for the full 15 minutes, but it should be at least a little concerning.
Especially when Carwin added:
“I have had a lot of time to reflect on the fight and while I have not seen it and due to the damage I incurred I can’t recall much of the fight.”
When is the line drawn between being courageous and gutsy, and being reckless and stupid?
Did Carwin cross that line, or did he do what any other physically capable fighter would have done in that situation?
Was referee Herb Dean remiss in letting the fight continue past the first round?
Regardless of what one’s opinion is on this thought provoking news, it certainly does open up some interesting discussion involving the safety of full contact fighters.
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