Just one week after telling MMAmania.com that he was gearing up to come back as competitive and aggressive as ever, Shane Carwin has been hit with more bad news.
"The Engineer" breaks the news on his site that he will need a few more repairs on his perpetually ailing back:
"As I ramped up my training for UFC 141 my body locked up during training. It wasn't like the Lesnar fight but my back just tightened up and I froze. I scheduled an MRI and the results showed that my disc in my lower back is into the nerves . My doctor gave me two options; retire and I could probably go on for a few years without surgery or I could undergo surgery and continue my career. The decision was easy. I have unfinished business. The UFC had me lined up to face one of the best in the world and I am confident I have everything I need to be a Champion. I am scheduling surgery and I hope to return to the Octagon by spring or summer 2012."
Carwin began his career 12-0 with 12 straight finishes, including a brutal pounding of Frank Mir that earned him a title shot against the heavyweight champion at the time, Brock Lesnar.
After starting fast, the big man finished slow and it's been all downhill ever since. He followed up that performance with a surgery that kept him out of a match-up against Roy Nelson at UFC 125. When he did finally come back, he was pasted by Junior dos Santos this past June 11.
And now, more surgery, more rehabilitation and more sitting on the sidelines pondering his two-fight losing streak and fast fall from grace in the world's largest fight promotion.
Anyone think this is Carwin's swan song? Or will we see him back inside the Octagon kicking ass and taking names next year?
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