Since his loss to Brock Lesnar at UFC 116, it will have been nearly a year since Shane Carwin has competed inside the Octagon. He’ll return to face Junior dos Santos this weekend, in which the heavyweight assures fans will see a different fighter.
Carwin was originally scheduled to fight UFC newcomer Jon Olav Einemo at UFC 131, but was given the opportunity to face dos Santos after the Brazilian’s original opponent, Brock Lesnar, was forced to pull out due to diverticulitis.
Despite swapping opponents, Carwin said the training camp has not drastically changed.
“The camp has stayed the same, it’s just the strategy has probably changed a little bit,” he told MMAWeekly.com.
Should the Colorado native emerge the winner, he will be slotted into the heavyweight title picture against Cain Velasquez later this fall. Carwin already holds experience in title bouts, as he previously challenged former champion, Brock Lesnar last summer at UFC 116.
The bout saw Carwin drop the 265-pound Lesnar but failed to finish him, as he fatigued prior to the end of the round. Lesnar instantly took notice of this and submitted his opponent in the second round.
This time around, he took a different approach and changed his diet and training regiment that is expected to feature Carwin to walk into his bout slimmer than usual. The results of his new found change have left Carwin in good spirits.
“Honestly, it was probably the best thing that’s happened to me; it’s a lifelong change too,” he said.
Carwin added that his diet and training has kept the strength and explosiveness intact, that has him ready for dos Santos this weekend.
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