Trainer: Mir Will Be Tougher Than Lesnar
Loretta Hunt Dec 18, 2009
While Shane
Carwin waits for the green light on a proposed interim
heavyweight title bout against Frank Mir at
UFC
111 on March 27 in Newark, N.J., preparations have already
begun for the fighter’s training camp at the Grudge Training Center
in Denver.
Carwin’s trainer, Trevor Whitman, said the fight with Mir, a former heavyweight champion, is one the camp gladly welcomes.
“I actually think this is a tougher fight than the Brock fight
because I think Shane can shut down Brock’s size,” said Whitman,
whose gym is the sister school to Greg
Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Albuquerque, N.M. “When
it comes to technical aspects of fighting, Mir has so much more
experience and he looks like a new fighter recently.”
Though he’s a 1999 NCAA Div. II wrestling champion, Carwin has been noted more for his heavy hands, which have stopped all three of his opponents inside the Octagon in less than two minutes since his debut at UFC 84 in May 2008.
“It’s funny because you see Shane in these fights and he goes out there and demolishes these guys,” said Whitman. “When he fights he looks very awkward and that’s (because) you can’t see his skillset yet. He hasn’t even passed into his deep end yet, and when he’s in the gym (in) the second, third and fourth rounds, he keeps getting better and better. I really can’t wait to see him get into the deeper waters of the fight. He’s more relaxed and his abilities -- for a 280-pound guy –- he’s just so athletic.”
Carwin also has an inner drive to finish his opponents, said Whitman.
“The reason he goes out there and just demolishes guys is because he has this killer instinct in him,” said Whitman. “I told him he turns into the Hulk. I feel bad for anybody that punches him because he just loses it. The thing is he loses it in somewhat of a controlled way where he goes out there and gains a dominant position and finishes the fight. I really believe Shane is, by far, the best finisher in the heavyweight division right now.”
The 34-year-old Carwin, who was originally scheduled to challenge champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 106 on Nov. 21 in Las Vegas before Lesnar was hospitalized with a severe intestinal infection, didn’t hesitate when offered the interim bout with Mir, said his trainer.
“He wanted to wait for Brock, but the thing is we’re just getting stale on the shelf,” said Whitman. “We’ve been off for a year now, and that makes it very tough. I hope Brock gets better and I hope his illness is not extreme and I fully believe in Shane that we will beat Brock at some point.”
Mir, who flattened Cheick Kongo in 72 seconds at UFC 107 last weekend, seems a more than a suitable distraction as Carwin and the rest of the 265-pound division hold their breath for Lesnar’s return.
“The most important thing about a fight with Frank is that you can not get in a bad position,” said Whitman. “It’s all about dominating every position, and if you get in that (bad) position, it’s about working your way out of it. Mir’s skillset as an all-around fighter ... I think he’s the best pound-for-pound in the heavyweight division right now for having access in every area, whether it’s striking, kickboxing, strength or jiu-jitsu.”
Carwin’s trainer, Trevor Whitman, said the fight with Mir, a former heavyweight champion, is one the camp gladly welcomes.
Advertisement
Though he’s a 1999 NCAA Div. II wrestling champion, Carwin has been noted more for his heavy hands, which have stopped all three of his opponents inside the Octagon in less than two minutes since his debut at UFC 84 in May 2008.
Whitman said that fans haven’t even seen what Carwin can do
yet.
“It’s funny because you see Shane in these fights and he goes out there and demolishes these guys,” said Whitman. “When he fights he looks very awkward and that’s (because) you can’t see his skillset yet. He hasn’t even passed into his deep end yet, and when he’s in the gym (in) the second, third and fourth rounds, he keeps getting better and better. I really can’t wait to see him get into the deeper waters of the fight. He’s more relaxed and his abilities -- for a 280-pound guy –- he’s just so athletic.”
Carwin also has an inner drive to finish his opponents, said Whitman.
“The reason he goes out there and just demolishes guys is because he has this killer instinct in him,” said Whitman. “I told him he turns into the Hulk. I feel bad for anybody that punches him because he just loses it. The thing is he loses it in somewhat of a controlled way where he goes out there and gains a dominant position and finishes the fight. I really believe Shane is, by far, the best finisher in the heavyweight division right now.”
The 34-year-old Carwin, who was originally scheduled to challenge champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 106 on Nov. 21 in Las Vegas before Lesnar was hospitalized with a severe intestinal infection, didn’t hesitate when offered the interim bout with Mir, said his trainer.
“He wanted to wait for Brock, but the thing is we’re just getting stale on the shelf,” said Whitman. “We’ve been off for a year now, and that makes it very tough. I hope Brock gets better and I hope his illness is not extreme and I fully believe in Shane that we will beat Brock at some point.”
Mir, who flattened Cheick Kongo in 72 seconds at UFC 107 last weekend, seems a more than a suitable distraction as Carwin and the rest of the 265-pound division hold their breath for Lesnar’s return.
“The most important thing about a fight with Frank is that you can not get in a bad position,” said Whitman. “It’s all about dominating every position, and if you get in that (bad) position, it’s about working your way out of it. Mir’s skillset as an all-around fighter ... I think he’s the best pound-for-pound in the heavyweight division right now for having access in every area, whether it’s striking, kickboxing, strength or jiu-jitsu.”
