Former interim UFC heavyweight champion Shane Carwin had a successful run in the UFC between 2008 and 2012, compiling a 4-2 record including four T/KO victories. Carwin was one of the heaviest hitters in the division with his most notable victory coming via stoppage over former champion Frank Mir. It’s safe to say that Carwin’s
Former interim UFC heavyweight champion Shane Carwin had a successful run in the UFC between 2008 and 2012, compiling a 4-2 record including four T/KO victories. Carwin was one of the heaviest hitters in the division with his most notable victory coming via stoppage over former champion Frank Mir. It’s safe to say that Carwin’s presence was undoubtedly felt during his tenure with the world’s largest MMA promotion, and at age 41, he may be bringing that power back to the division.
Taking to his official Twitter account recently, the former titleholder said plain and simple that he was ‘ready’ to fight again:
Details regarding when this return could happen or who Carwin could be matched up against are currently unclear, but it will be a spectacle nonetheless. Carwin, however, may have missed a huge opportunity given the fact that fellow former champion Brock Lesnar recently returned at July 9’s UFC 200. Lesnar and Carwin met back at UFC 116 in a bout where Carwin nearly finished Lesnar in the opening frame before getting submitted in the second round. A rematch would have been epic to say the least, but “The Beast” is now dealing with a potential anti-doping violation, likely taking him out of the equation regarding a possible opponent for Carwin.
Who would you like to see Carwin meet upon his return to the suddenly booming UFC heavyweight division?
41-year-old former UFC heavyweight slugger Shane Carwin retired from the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) a few years back and hasn’t competed since 2011 after suffering a series of injuries that would force him out of the cage. At the time, however, the former title challenger was a force to be reckoned with in
41-year-old former UFC heavyweight slugger Shane Carwin retired from the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) a few years back and hasn’t competed since 2011 after suffering a series of injuries that would force him out of the cage.
At the time, however, the former title challenger was a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division, compiling a 4-2 UFC record with four stoppage victories as well as a 12-2 overall record.
Five years later, Carwin may not be done yet.
Apparently healthy, Carwin recently spoke with getmoresports.com, admitting that he’s been ‘pondering a comeback’. And if he were to make a return, the knockout artist knows exactly what he wants: the UFC heavyweight title, or a rematch with ex-champion and professional wrestler Brock Lesnar:
“I am rehabbing and pretty much recovered,” Carwin said. “I am pondering a comeback. I just need the right motivation or opponent. I’d like to get the belt and retire after defending it. Or just beat up Brock again.
“I still compete with the best of them and could beat any of them.”
Lesnar and Carwin faced off back at UFC 116 in July 2010 with Lesnar’s then held heavyweight strap hanging in the balance. Carwin actually dished out quite a beating on Lesnar in the first round, sending a bloodied champion back to his corner before unfortunately suffering a submission loss to Lesnar in the second stanza.
Clearly confident that he could still compete with the best, what do you make of Carwin contemplating a potential return to action? Is it realistic? Can he still hang with the elite at this stage of his career?
In a recent interview given to Jim Rome, Dana White was a little more candid than we have seen when discussing Brock Lesnar’s recent retirement, specifically what was going through the former UFC Heavyweight Champion’s mind moments after becoming permanently incontinent compliments of an Alistair Overeem body kick. “It felt like I got kicked by a horse,” said Lesnar. Ok, so maybe that’s an exaggeration, but White states that Lesnar didn’t see himself taking down “The Reem” anytime soon, figuratively or literally:
The conversations I’ve had with Brock Lesnar since that fight, all indications point to it’s over. … Here’s what Brock said to me, he said ‘I’ll tell you what after my surgery from diverticulitis, this last surgery I had, I have never felt so good in my life.’ He said ‘I’ve had the best camp I’ve ever had, no injuries, I was in great shape, all the things that could go right, went right, that guy is just that much better than me and it’s time for me to retire.
Well, this pretty much seals the deal on that issue. If there were any doubts as to Mr. Lesnar’s heart and true investment in MMA, here you go.
In a recent interview given to Jim Rome, Dana White was a little more candid than we have seen when discussing Brock Lesnar’s recent retirement, specifically what was going through the former UFC Heavyweight Champion’s mind moments after becoming permanently incontinent compliments of an Alistair Overeem body kick. “It felt like I got kicked by a horse,” said Lesnar. Ok, so maybe that’s an exaggeration, but White states that Lesnar didn’t see himself taking down “The Reem” anytime soon, figuratively or literally:
The conversations I’ve had with Brock Lesnar since that fight, all indications point to it’s over. … Here’s what Brock said to me, he said ‘I’ll tell you what after my surgery from diverticulitis, this last surgery I had, I have never felt so good in my life.’ He said ‘I’ve had the best camp I’ve ever had, no injuries, I was in great shape, all the things that could go right, went right, that guy is just that much better than me and it’s time for me to retire.
Well, this pretty much seals the deal on that issue. If there were any doubts as to Mr. Lesnar’s heart and true investment in MMA, here you go.
And before you uproar with cries of “The man went through multiple surgeries!” and “You try and fight Overeem!”, please take note that we are not knocking the man for his toughness; anyone who could take the beating that Shane Carwin dealt him in the first round of their title fight back at UFC 116 and come out smiling in the second is surely more badass than anyone who wrote about it. But it seems so disappointing that Lesnar chose to retire when, in his own words, he was the best he ever felt. Whether or not he is truly as healthy as he claims is something we may never know, but considering what a groundbreaking achievement it was for a professional wrestler to be both signed by and be successful in the UFC, it’s a shame that ultimately Lesnar couldn’t break the stereotype that has existed for every professional wrestler who has tried to compete in MMA since; that they’re all just jumping ship, in it for the money. Brock Lesnar didn’t exactly convince us that the theory was ungrounded, especially with this line of reasoning.
Look at it this way, if every fighter retired because they had been beaten by a truly better opponent, what would have become of Rampage Jackson after Wanderlei Silva obliterated him back at PRIDE FC – Final Conflict 23? Surely not the man who, after suffering yet another KO via knees just one year later, would eventually knockout Wandy at UFC 92. THAT’S what separates true fighters from the rest. Desire. Come to think of it, Wanderlei would have ended the career of Kasushi Sakuraba as well, which might have been a good thing. At least he’d be able to remember who his kids are nowadays.
But it’s an issue of the past now, and we’ve already dwelled upon it too much. So we guess we should just be grateful for what Lesnar managed to accomplish, as brief as it may have seemed.
