Shane Carwin: The Interim Title Is Just a Glorified Trophy

UFC No.1 contender Shane Carwin is a very unique individual. Not only is he one of the world’s top heavyweight mixed martial artists, he is one of the brightest.

Carwin is an engineer by day, a mixed martial artist by night, although as he climbed the ranks, he is now focused on his fighting career.

“The Engineer” was set to d obattle with the UFC’s other behemoth heavyweight, Brock Lesnar at UFC 106.

Unfortunately, Lesnar came down with an illness that put both men on the sideline for the time being.

Critical of Lesnar’s actions after defeating Frank Mir at UFC 100, Carwin later came out in defense of the UFC heavyweight champion.

It is his attitude and decency that really separate Carwin from many of the other fighters. Read on and you will see what I am talking about.

Bryan Levick: With the cancellation of your title bout with Lesnar, you have had an opportunity to rest a knee injury you had suffered. How are you feeling now?

Shane Carwin: My knee is feeling fine. I would have fought either way, nut once the UFC knew the extent of Brock’s illness they told me to take some time off, and rehab the injury. I feel as though the time off has improved my situation, and I am back to wrestling again, which is good.

BL: When do you feel you’ll be ready to fight?

SC: I just need a full camp. I was asked to fight in Australia, but the day we were supposed to leave is the same day my wife is due to give birth. I am hoping to fight in March, but I have no control over that.

BL: It seems as though you got a late start on your MMA career. What drew you to the sport in the first place, and what were you doing beforehand?

SC: I was busy raising my son and working. I knew of the sport, but really didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to the potential of competing in it. Then I started helping Ron Waterman train for fights, and much like wrestling, this sport makes you fall in love with competing.

BL: You recently came out in defense of Brock Lesnar, when people were questioning the severity of his illness. No one was shocked, being that you are considered one of the true gentleman of the sport. Can you describe the unspoken relationship that fighters have amongst one another?

SC: I certainly think Brock gives the fans plenty to pick at when he is healthy, and able to defend himself. Here is a guy who not only is so sick he can’t fight, but he may never fight again. He has spent a lot of his life being a professional athlete, and then all of the sudden he is at risk of losing his ability to compete. I felt compelled to make sure that people knew I didn’t feel that Brock was “ducking me” or any of the other crazy things that were being said. Brock is a warrior, and I do not seeing him ducking anyone.

BL: If Lesnar is out for a significant amount of time, would you be willing to fight for an interim heavyweight championship?

SC: Titles are not important to me. The interim title is 2nd place with a medal. I am already in that spot (The number one contender spot) and I do not mind fighting to protect that spot, but I do not need a glorified trophy to do it. The champion is Brock, and he has the only belt that should matter to any fighter in the heavyweight division. I do not want to be the glorified contender, I want to be the guy that went in and fought the best guy in our division for the most prestigious prize in our sport. Until then I am just another UFC heavyweight at the top of the division waiting for a fight.

BL: What skills do you possess that separates you from all the other heavyweights in the division?

SC: My mental toughness, my early wrestling coaches helped me visualize my matches and that keeps me calm and focused during the fight. I do not get rattled and I am very focused on my opponent and what I came to do.

BL: Were you disappointed when Fedor Emeilanenko shunned the UFC, and instead signed with Strikeforce?

SC: Only because I would like to fight the guy. He is one of the best P4P in the world and as a heavyweight, he is the standard. If you are a true competitor you would want to face Fedor and test yourself against one of the greatest fighters of all time. Fedor could technically be considered undefeated, he has 30 fights and will go down as one of the legends of our sport. Strikeforce has a huge viewing audience and they are willing to co promote with M1. I suspect CBS will realize what they have in Fedor and they will increase their marketing of him and Strikeforce.

BL: Some critics have pointed out that you have never fought more than 2:11 in any of your 11 career fights. How do you prepare yourself for a longer fight, especially training in such thin air?

SC: We train for five 5 minute rounds at Grudge. I am prepared to go the distance, I feel like I get my rhythm in rounds 3 and 4. I always expect that my opponents will be able to take me into deep waters and I train and prepare accordingly. I am ready whenever the UFC puts someone in front of me that can last.

BL: Can you describe something about Greg Jackson that sets him apart from all other trainers?

SC: I was sitting right behind the red corner for the TUF finale and he had 4 or 5 guys on that card. Every fighter had a different game plan and Greg was calm, demanding and rewarding all at the same time. My manager who was with me looked at me towards the end of the night and said “that dude is impressive”, and really I think that sums it up. He loves fighting, he understands fighting and people, and he knows how to get the best out of both.

BL: What does a typical days training consist of for you?

SC: Monday, Wednesday,and Friday I run very early in the morning. From 11am-1pm, I do some lifting. From 5:30pm-7pm, I work out at Grudge Training Center, we do MMA, Kickboxing, MMA Grappling, and Boxing with coach Trevor Wittman. I finish up from 8pm-9pm with some BJJ at Eastons with Nick Kline.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am-12:00pm, I workout at Grudge. Then from 4pm-5pm, I work on my wrestling with UNC wrestling coach Leister Bowling.

On Saturdays I do my Grudge routine from 9:30am-11:00am. Then I have my Honey Do List from my wife Lani, which ends when I am finished.

BL: You train with so many great athletes, and many of them including Rashad Evans, and Keith Jardine have publicly stated that they would never fight each other. How do you feel about teammates fighting one another, and how would you handle it if you were asked to fight someone you train with?

SC: I think it depends on the trainers and the ability to figure it out fairly and logistically. I currently do not see how I could fight a team member as my team members really play a role in helping me become the fighter I am. I guess we would just have to wait and see if that ever happens.

BL:Besides wrestling, what is your favorite technique to train?

SC: I am really enjoying BJJ. I recently started over at white belt under Amal Easton and the technical aspect of the BJJ game has really captured my interest.

BL: It has been over 9 months since you have last competed; do you feel ring rust will be a factor when you do return? Also, what do you do to stay sharp when you are injured and unable to train as you normally would?

SC: Not really we train hard at Grudge Training Center and its not like I am taking time off. The other way to see it is I have had to get ready for two different fighters over three training camps and how much that has improved my game?

BL: Who are some of your favorite fighters to watch compete, in and out of the UFC?

SC: Fedor, GSP, Anderson, BJ, Couture, and most of the WEC fighters

BL: If you could fight any one fighter past or present who would it be?

SC: I’d love to fight or train with Fedor. I have a ton of respect for him as a fighter and a man.

BL: How do you feel about the heavyweights that came off of this year’s Ultimate Fighter?

SC: They need to get that cardio up for sure. Guys like Cain Velasquez have unlimited gas tanks and you do not want to gas against the UFC’s elite heavyweights. I think some of those guys are going to be a force in the division and I look forward to seeing them rise to the top.

BL: How would you feel about an opportunity to coach on the show?

SC: I really enjoy my family too much to be away from them. If it was summer and I could bring them with me I might consider it. I am a guy in need of coaching, I am still learning and evolving into the fighter I want to become. I can think of a lot better choices than me to teach the future fighters.

BL: Are there any young fighters that you are training with that we should look out for?

SC: Brendan Schaub, I suspect he will become an elite Heavyweight in the next few years.

BL: Last but not least, is there anyone you would like to thank, fans, management, sponsors?

SC: The fans are so great to me and I appreciate them more than they will ever know. My sponsors, Max Muscle, PerformanceMMA, Beaver Buzz Energy, Nightrider and MTX Audio, are the best. Please support them in any way possible.