Post by NYdream™ on Dec 20, 2008 14:23:26 GMT -5
Shane Carwin next fight against Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 96 possible March 7
By: MMAmania
Undefeated heavyweight specimen Shane Carwin (10-0) could face his toughest test to date when he collides with former division number one contender Gabriel Gonzaga (10-3) at UFC 96, which is scheduled for the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on March 7, according to a recent FiveOuncesOfPain.com report.
Carwin — who gives current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar a run for his money in terms of sheer size and athleticism — is among the promotion’s brightest young stars (even though he’s almost 34 years old). In fact, mixed martial arts legend Randy Couture secured his services as a training partner leading in to his fight against Lesnar at UFC 91 last month.
He is a three-time All-American in wrestling and a two-time All-American in football out of Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. Carwin has thus far lived up to the tremendous hype since his inaugural appearance for the promotion, during which he finished Christian Wellisch with a punch just 44 seconds into their encounter at UFC 84: “Ill Will” in May.
The enormous Ron Waterman disciple has not made it into the second round of any (10) of his professional mixed martial arts fights. In fact, Carwin fights have AVERAGED just one minute each. Insanity. He is coming off a 91-second destruction of the previously unbeaten Neil Wain at UFC 89 back in October.
Gonzaga is currently on a two-fight win streak after enduring back-to-back losses to top division players Couture and Fabricio Werdum. He submitted Justin McCully with a first round kimura at UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” in July and then crushed an overmatched Josh Hendricks at UFC 91 with a first round knockout.
With four straight wins to begin his career inside the Octagon, including a sensational (and at the time unlikely) knockout of Mirko Cro Cop with a headkick, “Napao” appears to be once again relevant in heavyweight title contender picture. The Brazilian will now look to string together three straight wins to secure a place near the top in 2009.
And a win over a highly touted prospect like Shane Carwin would do just that. The same goes for Carwin — defeating a veteran and former number one contender like Gonzaga would serve as springboard to launch him into the next phase of his promising career.
YES YES YES YES YES YES!!! Not only willl Carwin be on the main card for the first time(if I am correct and there is no way this is on the under card!) But he has a serious HW contender. I hope Carwin kicks Gonzagas ass!!!
