Fighter Profile: Shane Carwin

Overall Record: 12-2

UFC Record: 4-2

Height: 6’2” Weight: 265 lbs.

Born: 01-04-1975

MMA Gym: Grudge Fight Team

Shane “The Engineer” Carwin is a professional mixed martial artist specializing in boxing and wrestling. He is the former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, NCAA Division II Heavyweight National Champion, and a two-time All-American selection in football.

Carwin attended the Colorado School of Mines to earn a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Prior to that, he wrestled and played football for the Western State College of Colorado Mountaineers, the same place where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Technology. His academic prowess at both colleges earned him his nickname, “The Engineer”, a profession which he still excels at, even as a UFC Heavyweight.

He began his MMA career in 2005, in the UFC’s sister promotion, World Extreme Cagefighting. Carwin’s opponent, Carlton Jones submitted just after the three-minute mark due to strikes. It was clear early on that Carwin had some punching power. He went on to rattle off eight wins in a row, and claimed the Ring of Fire Heavyweight Championship before being invited to compete in the UFC.

His first UFC fight was versus Christian Wellisch, a fight in which he won with his ninth finish in a row. Carwin followed up his outstanding debut with knockout wins over Neil Wain, former number one contender Gabriel Gonzaga and a stunning knockout of former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir.

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In his fight against Mir, Carwin again showed his incredible striking skills. He bullied Mir in the clinch, and caught him up against the cage with several skull-crushing uppercuts. By finishing Mir, Carwin improved to 12-0, with 12 finishes, all of which had come inside the first round. With the win, Carwin was also crowned the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, and granted him a unification bout with then-champ, Brock Lesnar who had been previously injured, battling diverticulitis.

Carwin came out of the gate swinging as he always did, and knocked Lesnar down. He unloaded with ground strikes, but Lesnar refused to submit, and battled out of the round. In his first fight entering the second round, Carwin looked exhausted, and upset that he could not finish Lesnar. Lesnar went on to win the fight in the second round via arm-triangle.

After having been handed his first loss, Carwin was sure to slip in the rankings. Considering that it was a title bout, he did not slip fall in the talent-laden heavyweight division. He was set to face UFC newcomer, Jon Olav Einemo at UFC 131, the very same event where, after losing the title to champion Cain Velasquez, Lesnar was set to face Junior Dos Santos for the number one contender spot. Due to another bout of diverticulitis, Lesnar was forced to pull out of The Ultimate Fighter 14 coach showdown, and Carwin was called to replace him.

Carwin showed improved technical skills as he was able to stand and trade with JDS for some time, but the real show was of his heart. Badly bloodied in the first round, with a certainly broken nose, Carwin battled through and survived all the way to a five-round decision in which he lost.

Despite the loss, it was clear that Carwin is a fighter that will not quit, and has years ahead of him in the sport. Carwin recently posted on his website that he is now recovered from the bout, and ready to fight again, possibly in December. His next fight has not yet been made official.

Recent Shane Carwin MMA News:

• Defeated Gabriel Gonzaga by KO at UFC 96 on March 7, 2009 in Columbus, OH - UFC 96 results

• Defeated Frank Mir by KO at UFC 111 on March 27, 2010 in Newark, NJ - UFC 111 results

• Lost to Brock Lesnar via Submission at UFC 116 for the Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Championship on July 3, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV - UFC 116 results

Steve Cassidy
Profighting-fans.com Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of UFC