UFC Heavyweight Shane Carwin Sidelined By Back Injury

Former title contender out until Spring 2012 at the earliest

Shane Carwin will once again be going under the knife.

The UFC heavyweight announced on his official website Saturday that an injury will put him back on the surgical table and sideline him from competing until Spring 2012 at the earliest.

Carwin, who defeated Frank Mir to claim the UFC interim heavyweight championship during then-champion Brock Lesnar was first diagnosed with diverticulitis, was beginning to prepare for UFC 141 when the injury occurred.

“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,” Carwin wrote on his site.

“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.”

While there are a handful of matches already announced for the December 30 fight card in Las Vegas, Carwin’s involvement had not yet been announced.

This will be the second time in under a year that the 36-year-old heavyweight will go under the knife.

Shortly after being paired with Roy Nelson in the co-main event of UFC 125, Carwin was forced to withdraw from the bout to undergo surgery to repair a long-standing issue with his neck.

Carwin last fought at UFC 131 in June, filling in for Lesnar opposite Junior dos Santos, losing a lopsided decision to the Brazilian #1 contender.

Be sure to keep checking Heavy MMA for further news on UFC 141.

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