Still Mum on Steroids, Carwin has Successful Surgery in Hopes of Spring 2011 Return

(Now seems like as good a time as any to start talking. PicProps: Squabbles.com)
Though his agent said doctors didn’t know the full extent of Shane Carwin’s injuries until after he went under the knife in Colorado this week, the surgery to …


(Now seems like as good a time as any to start talking. PicProps: Squabbles.com)

Though his agent said doctors didn’t know the full extent of Shane Carwin’s injuries until after he went under the knife in Colorado this week, the surgery to repair “neck, back and nerve problems” on the UFC heavyweight contender was reportedly successful. The big guy will be able to get back to contact training in 8-12 weeks and is hoping to return to action in the Octagon sometime during the Spring of 2011, according to an MMAFighting.com story out on Thursday.

"It went as good as it could have, but it was worse than we thought it was, if that makes sense …,” said Carwin agent Jason Genet. “The doctor said he was surprised Shane could compete with the damage as it was, but with the surgery, there’s no reason he won’t be able to fight and possibly even perform at a higher level. Once Shane gets back into the motions, we think it’ll be relatively quick for him to get into fighting shape. He’s not a guy who has a lot of ring rust."

Let us say without a hint of sarcasm or snark that this is great news. After Carwin had to pull out of his UFC 125 fight with Roy Nelson many of us media types were worried how extensive surgery might affect the 35-year-old, 265-plus pounder. It’s good to hear such a positive prognosis. Now, let’s address the issue everyone has been thinking about whenever we read anything about Carwin during the last few months: When can we expect the statement he promised us on that whole steroid thing?

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Jose Aldo vs. Josh Grispi Featherweight Championship Finalized for UFC 125

Filed under: UFC, NewsJust days after the UFC-WEC merger was announced, the first defense of the featherweight belt will soon follow. Champion Jose Aldo will indeed defend the 145-pound championship against Josh Grispi at UFC 125, the UFC has officiall…

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Jose AldoJust days after the UFC-WEC merger was announced, the first defense of the featherweight belt will soon follow. Champion Jose Aldo will indeed defend the 145-pound championship against Josh Grispi at UFC 125, the UFC has officially confirmed.

Grispi (14-1) had been scheduled to face Erik Koch at WEC 52 on Nov. 11 until being redirected into the title opportunity. The 22-year-old Grispi is 14-1 overall and is unbeaten in four WEC fights, winning all four in the first round.

Roy Nelson Left in Heavyweight Purgatory After Carwin’s Withdrawal

Filed under: UFCUFC heavyweight Roy Nelson was four days removed from knee surgery when the UFC approached him about fighting on the Jan. 1 card. His doctor advised against it, but “Big Country” agreed anyway, which is what it makes it all the more pai…

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UFC heavyweight Roy Nelson was four days removed from knee surgery when the UFC approached him about fighting on the Jan. 1 card. His doctor advised against it, but “Big Country” agreed anyway, which is what it makes it all the more painful to have the bout pulled out from under him now that his opponent, Shane Carwin, has withdrawn with a back injury, Nelson told MMA Fighting.

“I was bummed, but the only reason I was bummed was just because of how much I was pushed to fight Shane. Because of my knee surgery, my doctor said I shouldn’t fight until like February or March, and I kind of got pushed into it.

“That’s the reason why it hurts, more than anything, is just the fact that I was pushed into something that I really didn’t want to do but was going to do just because you don’t want to hear the ‘Are you an f-ing fighter?’ speech. Everybody knows, you never fight 100%, but it was an opportunity and I was more than willing to jump on the opportunity.”

ALDO Vs. GRISPI at UFC 125

As news of Roy Nelson being pulled from UFC 125 hits, Versus.com learns that a Featherweight Championship fight may be scheduled in its place between titleholder, Jose Aldo and contender, Josh Grispi. Grispi is undefeated in his WEC career with notable wins against Mark Hominick and Jens Pulver. The proposed bout between […]

Josh-Grispi-1

As news of Roy Nelson being pulled from UFC 125 hits, Versus.com learns that a Featherweight Championship fight may be scheduled in its place between titleholder, Jose Aldo and contender, Josh Grispi. Grispi is undefeated in his WEC career with notable wins against Mark Hominick and Jens Pulver. The proposed bout between the two Featherweights would mark the first ever 145 pound challenge inside the UFC Octagon. Nelson’s fight was pulled from the card when Shane Carwin had to back out of their tilt due to a back injury. UFC 125 will be headlined by Frankie Edgar Vs. Gray Maynard in a Lightweight Championship bout.

Report: Jose Aldo vs. Josh Grispi Likely for Featherweight Title Fight at UFC 125

(Who wants to see fights finished in here at 145!)
According to a new report from Ariel Helwani, contracts have been sent out to book Jose Aldo vs. Josh Grispi as the UFC’s first official featherweight title fight at #125 (January 1st, Las Vegas). Th…

Jose Aldo Manny Gamburyan WEC 51
(Who wants to see fights finished in here at 145!)

According to a new report from Ariel Helwani, contracts have been sent out to book Jose Aldo vs. Josh Grispi as the UFC’s first official featherweight title fight at #125 (January 1st, Las Vegas). The bout would serve as the co-main event, supporting the lightweight title fight between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard.

Aldo, now 8-0 in the WEC, most recently defended his belt for the second time against Manny Gamburyan at WEC 51 in September. Grispi is also undefeated under the WEC banner, and has slashed through Mark Hominick, Micah Miller, Jens Pulver, and LC Davis, all in under three minutes of the first round. The Massachusetts native was slated to face Eric Koch at next month’s WEC 52 event, but that fight would be canceled if he accepts the Aldo fight. (And why wouldn’t he, really? Besides the obvious.) As we reported previously, Mark Hominick was originally in line to be Aldo’s next opponent; however, his broken hand is preventing him from competing on New Year’s Day.

Helwani also reports that Roy Nelson — left without an opponent after Shane Carwin’s back-related withdrawal — has been officially pulled from the event. 

Jose Aldo to Defend UFC Featherweight Title at UFC 125

Filed under: UFC, NewsThe announcement of the merger between the UFC and WEC was less than an hour old when the news came down that Jose Aldo will be the first of the newly renamed UFC champions to put his belt on the line.

During a conference call to…

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Jose AldoThe announcement of the merger between the UFC and WEC was less than an hour old when the news came down that Jose Aldo will be the first of the newly renamed UFC champions to put his belt on the line.

During a conference call to formally announce the merger, UFC president Dana White confirmed that Aldo would defend the featherweight championship at UFC 125 on January 1.