Shane Carwin Expects A Knockout Against Lesnar

UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin recently spoke with MMA:30 about his upcoming July bout with actual champion Brock Lesnar.

Carwin told MMA:30 that, despite their matchup promising to be one of the biggest in UFC history, he is taking it all in stride and is preparing for his fight with Lesnar just like he would any other.

“It’s just like another fight,” said Carwin. “Just preparing the same way, just trying to become a better fighter day by day and work on the things that I need to work on.”

Carwin has a solid wrestling background but has become known as a knockout artist since eight of his twelve wins have come by first round knockout (the undefeated fighter has ended all of his fight in the first round, however.) When asked if he believes that he will be able to put Lesnar down in the same fashion, Carwin answered to the point.

“I don’t think any man can take one of my punches if it hits right,” he said.

Despite his propensity for ending fights early and his expressed desire to knock Lesnar out, Carwin hopes for a competitive bout with Lesnar.

“A knockout,” he said when asked how he sees the fight ending. “I don’t know which round but a knockout. I hope it’s a bit of a war.”

With both men having entered MMA on the strength of their wrestling pedigree, Carwin says that he will not be surprised if Lesnar attempts to take him down. He’s just hoping that they can trade leather somewhere in between takedown attempts.

“I can see it taking place both spots but I would love for him to stand and trade with me,” said Carwin.

Carwin and Lesnar will square off at the aptly named UFC 116: Lesnar Vs. Carwin card which is scheduled to take place on July 3rd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card will be supported by bouts between Wanderlei Silva and Yoshihiro Akiyama, Matt Brown and Chris Lytle, a rematch between Krzysztof Soszynski and Stephan Bonnar and a lightweight tilt between George Sotiropoulos and Kurt Pellegrino.