UFC 116: Brock Lesnar - “Can’t keep a good man down”

Brock Lesnar faces Shane Carwin with the UFC Heavyweight title on the line at UFC 116 on July 3rd

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Not even a life-threatening case of diverticulitis can keep UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar down. Now that the Minnesota-based fighter is back on the right track health-wise, he can concentrate on defending his title against the long line of young heavyweight prospects that are on the rise. The first contender to have his number called is 6’2” 265 lb. Colorado engineer and Interim Heavyweight Champ – Shane Carwin.

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Carwin poses a major threat to Lesnar and his “real” Championship title. After posting a perfect 8-0 mark through his first two years as a professional, Carwin was scooped up by the UFC in 2008. He quickly adjusted to life in the octagon and has since developed into one of the best heavyweights in the world. He made a smooth transition into the UFC and compiled four straight victories, all by 1st round (T) KO. It wasn’t however, until his most recent bout, a March UFC 111 knockout of Frank Mir (for the Interim Heavyweight Champion tag), that he was being taken as a serious title contender.

You have to look far beyond the records to properly analyze this heavyweight clash. Carwin has 12 bouts and Lesnar 5, not a lot for a champion and interim champion to have, but, both have shown that “experience” is only a small part in this sport.

If you try and break down Lesnar’s stand-up skill-set you have to begin with his biggest strength, which is his power game. You will not find many heavyweights in any organization that are able to match the power of Lesnar. If there is someone that is close to doing that, it has to be Shane Carwin. This bout features two of the strongest men in the sport, making it a must see, if for nothing else, to watch these mammoth’s trade bombs.

From a technical aspect, maybe Carwin can be given a slight advantage, but all other advantages in the stand-up game belong to Lesnar. If this bout stays on the feet, I like Lesnar coming out standing with his hand raised. Neither chin has been tested a great deal, but Lesnar has taken some of Randy Couture’s elbows, that is enough to pass the test and give him the overall edge.

When a fight between two wrestlers goes to the ground, it sometimes can lack the excitement that the fans seek. Not with these two, when this bout hits the mats, look for both speedy heavyweight’s to scramble for positioning. If Lesnar gets on top first, the only thing that may save Carwin is the end-of-the-round bell. On his back, Lesnar is strong enough to power out of bad positions, or play defense and absorb a few punches. Carwin really hasn’t shown enough from the top to predict exactly what he will do, but his sufficient wrestling experience should carry him through. Both Lesnar and Carwin lack a full set of submission finishing skills, so I would have to give the overall ground edge to the current Champ.

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Carwin has to some degree flown under the radar, but experienced fans could tell he was a talent and by no means should he be counted out. On the same note, Lesnar is a one of a kind athlete with a seldom-seen combination of speed and power. I look forward to these types of match-ups and despite Lesnar’s unpredictability on the microphone, it’s these types of fighters and fights that help build the sport. When all is said and done, it all comes down to one thing. If a deadly case of diverticulitis can’t beat Brock Lesnar, I don’t give another heavyweight fighter much of a chance either. Good Luck Shane!

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer