Shane Carwin Interview: Talks All Things Mir; Predicts Knockout

When a November title fight failed to materialize with sidelined Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, undefeated contender Shane Carwin used the extended layoff following his knockout win over Gabriel Gonzaga to rehab a nagging injury. With Lesnar recently announcing that his return to the cage is on for 2010, it is full speed ahead for Carwin’s camp.  He is currently preparing for a March showdown with former champion Frank Mir, set to take place at UFC 111 for the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship and a chance to challenge Lesnar this summer. While Carwin was sure to point out his respect for the man he will be facing on March 27, he also revealed in an exclusive interview that he fully expects the knockout to come, sooner or later.

Tapology’s Steven Kelliher recently caught up with Carwin in order to get his thoughts on Mir and the trash talk he is almost sure to bring with him, his training heading into the biggest fight of his professional career to date, and his official prediction for the fight.

UFC 111, which also features a title fight between UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre and Dan Hardy, takes place Saturday, March 27 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey and airs live on Pay Per View

Tapology: You mentioned after your scheduled fight with Brock Lesnar was scrapped in November that you would use the time off to heal up a nagging injury. Can you talk a little bit about that injury and how you feel now?

Carwin: I did rehab with my knee because I had a second-degree strain in my ACL. It feels 100% now.

Tapology: Before we talk about the actual fight, Frank Mir has proven himself to be adept at selling fights recently. Do you expect him to try to do the same thing with you, to get personal before the fight?

Carwin: Yes. I really haven’t thought much about it, but if Frank wants to take this fight in that direction, then that’s what will happen. Some fighters need to talk and do things like that. I respect Frank as a fighter and all that and if people want to see a great fight all they have to do is tune in; they don’t need the talk.

Tapology: Is it easy for you to remain focused on the task at hand and not listen to any of that talk?

Carwin: Yeah, I don’t really pay any attention to any of that. My focus is to go in there and fight. As soon as that cage door closes, I’m ready to fight and that’s what I love to do.

Tapology: Do you think Mir is the toughest guy you have taken on to this point in your career, and if so, how do you prepare for a guy like him?

Carwin: With the level we are all at in the UFC, every fight with every opponent could be tough; I don’t care who you’re fighting. With those 4oz gloves, anything is possible, so I just go in there and fight my fight and I fight my heart out and lay it all on the line, so that’s how I win.

I train with Nate [Marquardt] all the time, as well as Eliot Marshall and Brendan Schaub. Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine make it up every once in a while—Georges St-Pierre I don’t see very often—but those are the guys that I’m training with.

Tapology: In what aspect of the game do you think Mir is going to pose the biggest threat to you personally?

Carwin: I just think that Frank is an all-around fighter. He poses a threat in all positions—he is traditionally known for his Jiu-Jitsu—but I think his stand-up is underrated by a lot of people.

Tapology: Where do you think your advantage will be in this fight?

Carwin: You never know until you get in there, but I just feel like I can compete with anybody in there; that’s the bottom line. I’m very confident and I’m just going to go in there and have fun.

Tapology: Mir has compared you to Brock Lesnar in terms of your size and wrestling ability. What part of your game do you think is going to surprise him if he thinks of you in those terms?

Carwin: I’d say that my mentality is probably a little bit different from Brock’s. As far as the size and strength is concerned, I’m probably very similar to Brock—I’m walking around at about 290lbs right now—but other than that I think my striking separates me from him. I really have a passion for it and I have a great coach in Trevor Whitman. You’re going to have to kill me to get me out of there, so I’m a tough fight for anybody.

Tapology: Do you think there is any chance of this fight going the distance?

Carwin: I’m training for the distance, but I don’t know if the fight will make it the distance. I guarantee that the training we do is more hell than the actual fight, so I know I am well prepared.

Tapology: This fight is going to be for the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship. What are your thoughts on that title?

Carwin: Brock’s got the real title and that’s what we’re all shooting for. When Brock makes a healthy return, we’ll make that fight someday.

Tapology: Before I let you go, what is your prediction for the fight?

Carwin: I’m expecting a war. Mir is a former champion at the top of his game, I’m excited for it, and my prediction is a knockout; I don’t even know what round, I just want to go in there and throw some leather.