A healthy, healed and raring to go Brock Lesnar will put his UFC heavyweight belt on the line on July 3rd 2010. He will face off against the well respected undefeated contender Shane Carwin. Shane holds a full-time job as a civil and mechanical engineer in northern Colorado as well as the interim UFC heavyweight title, after he defeated the 2 time heavyweight title holder Frank Mir back in March.
The bout was originally set for UFC 106 when Brock became very ill from an illness he didn’t even know he had- diverticulitis, and had to pull out of the fight. After professional care, time and a new stringent diet he is set for his return.
He did say he misses, "A big bowl of fruity pebbles at 10 o’clock at night" though.
At a UFC media conference held today June 22, 2010 Brock was assuring the media his past health issues and almost 1 year away from competition would not have an effect on the outcome of the fight. With statements given to MMA2DAY and other members of the media such as, “I believe the way I went to college and the division 1 title that I have, I believe, I have gotten a lot accomplished in my wrestling. I’ve a lot of confidence in my coaching staff and my training partner. I surround myself in this camp with former division 1 and division 2 national champions so I'm coming in this fight well prepared for my opponent that's for sure.”
Lesnar trains primarily with Minnesota Martial Arts Academy. He brought in Randy Couture to help prepare him for the fight. Randy is a UFC three-time former heavyweight champion and a two-time light-heavyweight champion and before that he was an Olympic wrestling alternate.
This was done to combat the fact that Shane Carwin wrestled in college, becoming a two-time NCAA Division II Wrestling National Runner-Up Heavyweight in 1996–97 and the NCAA II Wrestling Heavyweight National Champion in 1999. He was also a two-time All-American in football for Western State.
Brock states, “Randy Couture has more wresting credentials then Goldstein and I put together.” He also said, “We complement each other and we degrade each other. You know the biggest compliment is honesty. It makes you a better fighter.”
Continuing to speak of Randy Lesnar said, ‘I've got to really take my hat off to the guy. When he came in to my training camp I was very impressed with him.”
35 year old Carwin holds an MMA record of 12 wins with no losses. He began his UFC career in 2008. All 12 of his winning fights have ended in round 1. He trains at one of the most well known camps in the country, Jackson's Submission Fighting.
Lesnar who turns 33 just a few days after the fight clearly takes no fight lightly and that includes Carwin. “I think every fight is a tough fight. There's been no easy fights for me since I stepped foot in the octagon. Shane possesses some different threats that I haven’t had. Being the size and strength and the wrestling. Shane is heavy handed and he is a division 2 national champion wrestler and he's got 12 fights. I took a different route. I got thrown to the wolves right away, where Shane has been able to get out and cut his teeth a little bit. Where I was thrown into the cage right away and had big fights right away so every fight is a big fight and whether or not I’ve prepared for them. I believe that I am.”
It’s been almost a year we have waited for Brocks return. “I'm excited to get in there again and be a part of it. I put my heart and soul and my whole life into my training camp. I'm very confident that I am going to win that night. I think I am going to win and I think Shane thinks I am going to win”
Shane on the other hand states, “I've got that never quit attitude, a lot of heart, determination and you know what? I love to get in there and I love to bang and I like to fight. This is what I was born to do. This is what I love to do and I'm passionate about it.”
A reporter from Scotland asked Brock if there were any aspects of when he was the main event for WWE that he would use for situations like July the 3rds main event fight. To which he responded, “The main thing I can take from WWE is that it’s basically the same thing. We are promoting a big fight. It involves sports entertainment and this is a sport and entertainment. The main difference is this is real and WWE wasn’t. The WWE always lifted big PPV’s and this is the same thing. I just got to get out and execute and fight for real.”
No disrespect intended, “If it wasn’t for the WWE and all the visibility I got worldwide and that is what I bring to the table for the UFC. This is somewhere in the 30's of PPV that I have participated in. I've headlined and main evented probably 25 PPV events. Like I said this isn’t my first rodeo. I enjoy it and I've got no nerves, no jitters. I am well prepared. If it weren’t for the WWE I wouldn’t be as well prepared as I am now.”
Brock’s response to being asked if he thought he would win in a fight with Fedor, “Absolutely I can beat anybody.”
It may be the 4th of July weekend but for the real fireworks look to the cage on July 3rd. Live on PPV. From the MGM Grand Garden Arena located in Las Vegas Nevada. Visit UFC.com for the full fight card.
For a complete recap of the fights and to hear Clay Guida talk about his UFC 117 fight against Rafael dos Anjos tune in to MMA2DAY live WSBR 740 out of south Florida. You can also listen live on the internet for info please visit MMA2Day.com or PennyJoMMA.com or SweetEntertainment.com
