A Slimmer, Trimmer Shane Carwin Will Debut at UFC 131 Against Junior Dos Santos

Shane Carwin at the Grudge Training Center

When Shane Carwin returns at UFC 131 in Vancouver it will be nearly a year since the former interim heavyweight champion stepped foot in the Octagon.

This time around however it will be a slimmer and trimmer version.

Following neck surgery, Carwin was happy to get back to work at the Grudge Training Center, but felt it was time to focus on his diet and conditioning as he worked to make his return to action.

The way to do that was teaming up with Josh Ford to help him with his diet. The results will show next weekend when he fights Junior dos Santos, but Carwin already feels the difference as he gets ready for the showdown.

“I’m weighing around 255 to 260 (pounds). I’ve been working with Forged Fuel with Josh Ford, he actually trains out of our center. Actually, my diet is mostly organic now. Lots of fruits and vegetables, we get some chicken and fish in for protein, but he completely changed my mindset process on nutrition, and how to eat,” Carwin said on Tuesday.

“Everything we do is for recovery. He’s been a great asset and probably one of my biggest assets for this camp.”

Diet has become a hot topic of discussion all around the MMA world. Nutritionists like Mike Dolce and Ford are a hot commodity, but also the different types of diets that fighters use have been in the spotlight.

UFC welterweight Jake Shields and lightweight fighter Mac Danzig both opt for a vegetarian diet, while former “Ultimate Fighter” competitor James Wilks has gone completely vegan for his nutritional needs.

Other fighters like Frank Mir have tried the vegan diet, but as he headed into his fight last weekend against Roy Nelson, he stated that it cost him too much weight and he shifted back to more traditional eating habits.

The debate will rage on forever as to which diet works the best, but it all comes down to each individual fighter and how their bodies react to the changes.

For Carwin, he believes that Ford’s system is going to greatly benefit him come fight night. He already weighs a full 25 pounds less than what he normally walked around at prior to a bout.

“Before the (Brock) Lesnar and Frank (Mir) fights I was cutting around 15 pounds for each of those fights for that Friday weigh-in,” Carwin revealed.

“I walk around now, I feel like I have more energy, and I just generally feel better. That’s my hat’s off to Josh Ford.”

The true payoff will be revealed when Carwin steps on the scales on June 10 for weigh-ins and then on June 11 for his fight with TUF 13 coach Junior dos Santos.

Damon Martin is the lead staff writer and radio host for MMAWeekly.com.
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