By Shawn Krest – AHN Sports Correspondent
6/30/2010 3:58:30 PM
Las Vegas
, NV, United States (AHN) – Shane Carwin is the UFC’s interim Heavyweight champion. A layperson’s definition of that title might be, “Until the real champion is available, he’s the best we’ve got.”
That’s the story of Shane Carwin’s career. It’s a story he hopes to change Saturday night when he faces Brock Lesnar in the main event of UFC 116 in Las Vegas.
Lesnar is the UFC Heavyweight champion–the “real champion.” Lesnar put the contrast between the two fighters best. “He’s got 12 fights,” said Lesnar of Carwin.
“I took a different route. I got thrown to the wolves right away, while Shane’s been able to go out and cut his teeth. I got thrown into the cage and had big fights right away.”
Lesnar, who made his UFC debut in his second pro fight and fought for the title in his fourth bout, won’t get much sympathy from Carwin.
Carwin toiled for two years in the MMA bush leagues. He did his time on the “of” circuit (Ring of Fire, Art of War). He fought in the pre-Zuffa WEC.
Lesnar has fought all but two of his pro bouts in the fight Mecca of Las Vegas. The other two were in Los Angeles and his current fighting home of Minnesota.
Carwin has fought in Frisco, Texas, Broomfield, Colorado, and Tunica, Mississippi. Saturday night will be just his second Las Vegas fight.
Both men were college wrestlers at the same time.
“It’s like destiny,” Carwin said after he earned the bout with Lesnar by stopping Frank Mir at UFC 111. “Brock and I were national champions at the same time in wrestling, and we never got to meet.”
That’s because Lesnar starred at the University of Minnesota, a Division I school. He had a full scholarship and won the national championship at the highest college level.
Meanwhile, Carwin fought at Western State in Gunnison, Colorado. He won the Division II championship. A layperson’s definition of Division II might be, “If you don’t count the big schools, these guys are the best we’ve got.”
Nothing against small school athletes, or interim champions, but Carwin is looking to shed the qualifiers. No more, “the best, except…” or “the best, until…”, he wants to be simply the best.
“The UFC is the NFL of MMA,” Carwin said. “It’s the best of the best.”
Carwin doesn’t begrudge Lesnar’s path to Saturday’s fight. Of his own long path to MMA stardom, Carwin said, “Honestly, my opponents when I was trying to get to the UFC were probably not of UFC caliber. But once you get here, the guys are the best fighters in the world.”
And now he’s looking to be the best of them all.
“If I touch anybody with my hands, I can knock them out,” said Carwin. “I have a never-quit attitude. I have heart and determination. I love to get in there and bang. I’m looking to destroy people, not eke out a decision.”
With a perfect record in 12 pro bouts, all first-round stoppages, Carwin has earned the chance to fight for the right to be called the undisputed best.
With Fedor Emelianenko’s loss last weekend, Carwin won’t even have to worry about any asterisks on the title of MMA’s Best Heavyweight.
For the first time, Shane Carwin can reach the very top tier of his sport.
Finishing his thought on missing Lesnar in college, Carwin said, “Here we are, 10 years later, and we finally get to meet. It’s on a much bigger stage–the best stage in the world.”