Shane Carwin is one of the true big men of the UFC's heavyweight division.
Just exactly how big is a matter of some uncertainty and a lot of internet debate. It's pretty clear that Carwin is shorter than his official UFC stats, which list him at 6'5" and 265 lbs. Carwin lists his stats on his home website, Shane-Carwin.com, as 6'2" and 265 lbs, and he weighed in at 259.5 at UFC 96, the last event he competed in.
Regardless, there is no debate that Carwin is a very big, muscular man, and he carries his weight well. He'll next face former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir at UFC 111 on March 27 in a bout to establish the next heavyweight title challenger.
Mir has generated a lot of talk in recent months, with his ever-increasing weight and muscle development, and seems to be driven by the idea that in the heavyweight division at least, size matters.
Back at UFC 81, when Mir first faced current heavyweight champ, Brock Lesnar, the 6'3" Mir weighed-in at a rather flabby 255. By UFC 107, a muscular and ripped Mir had to cut weight down to 264.5 lbs at the weigh-in before his first-round demolition of a much smaller Cheick Kongo. Mir is arguably bigger now than Carwin, a transformation that many would have doubted was possible a year ago.
All of this begs the question: how much will Mir's increased strength and size help him against Carwin, who, until recently, was regarded as second only to Lesnar in size among UFC heavyweights? Carwin expressed some doubts as to how effective Mir's added bulk would be.
"Let's see how he carries it for 25 minutes," Carwin told MMABay. "Brock and I have been big since college. This is not an experience it is genetics and I know I can go 25 minutes full speed without fatigue from the extra weight. Also guys like Brock and I have been using our weight as a weapon and it takes a few years to master using your weight correctly."
Despite the fact that Carwin questions how much Mir's new-found size will help him in the short-term, he feels that his rival's decision to bulk up is generally a good idea. The UFC's heavyweight division is more competitive than ever, and every edge a fighter gets can help.
"I think Frank is making a good decision by putting on the weight, as I see the division getting bigger not smaller," Carwin stated. "I just don't see it as being the great equalizer that he does. If I was paying several hundred dollars a month to be my size I'd probably have to convince myself it is worth it. Only way we will know is when we meet up and see who is pushing who."
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