Former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin has been forced to withdraw from his planned UFC 125 bout with Roy “Big Country” Nelson after suffering a back injury that may require surgery. Carwin announced the injury and his withdrawal on his official website earlier today.
Depending on the severity of the back injury, Carwin could be sidelined from anywhere from 8-12 weeks to an indefinite period. Nelson is still expected to compete on the New Year’s Day card and Fighters Only reports that Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović has expressed interest in stepping in for Carwin.
Carwin (12-1-0) expressed disappointment in having to withdraw from the fight, but he was unable to provide a definitive timetable for his return. He underwent an MRI yesterday and doctors will soon decide whether surgery will be required. Carwin had been looking to rebound from his first career loss when he was submitted by Brock Lesnar at UFC 116. Carwin dominated the former champion throughout the first round before succumbing to an arm-triangle choke in round two.
The Colorado native has recently been the subject of controversy after it was alleged that he had taken steroids during the early stages of his career, prior to joining the UFC. Carwin remained relatively quiet on the matter and it appeared that he would not suffer any punishment from the UFC for his alleged actions. However, with the injury keeping him out of action for at least 2-3 months, Carwin’s immediate future remains unclear.
The division continues to evolve with Cain Velasquez capturing the UFC Heavyweight Championship this past weekend. Carwin will now be forced to fight back into title contention upon his return.
(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)