VANCOUVER — Shane Carwin admits he had plenty to ponder in the wake of his loss to Brock Lesnar last July.
Carwin attacked Lesnar with everything he had in the first round at UFC 116, holding a 39-3 edge in significant strikes according to FightMetric. But, with referee Josh Rosenthal hovering nearby, a downed and desperate Lesnar somehow survived the round — and then rallied to submit an exhausted Carwin in the second round.
Carwin was left with the interim heavyweight championship belt, rather than the real one.
“There were some definite long nights,” Carwin said of the aftermath. “You try to figure out what was going on, what was wrong, what you could have done different. It replays in your mind. Maybe I should have stepped off of him and let him back up and just kept on trying to knock him down on the feet.
“You come to the realization that’s who I am and when I have somebody wounded like that, I go in for the kill. And there’s no changing that.”
That hasn’t stopped Carwin from retooling in advance of his main event matchup with Brazilian slugger Junior Dos Santos at UFC 131 on Saturday night.
The 36-year-old Carwin stepped in for Lesnar after the former champion was sidelined a second time by the digestive disorder diverticulitis. Saturday’s winner will get a shot at current heavyweight title-holder Cain Velasquez.
Carwin (12-1) underwent neck surgery to correct pinched nerves that were causing his right arm and the middle of his back to go numb. He also revamped his diet under nutritionist Josh Ford.
The six-foot-two Carwin expects to weigh between 255 and 260 pounds Saturday, some 20 to 25 pounds lighter than when he fought Lesnar.
The six-foot-four Dos Santos (12-1) will weigh about 240.
Carwin, who is an engineer when not fighting, estimates he has reduced his protein intake by some four-fifths. Processed food is also out.
“I have more energy,” he said with a smile.
“As far as speed and athleticism, I should be faster (Saturday),” he added.
“I think I’m just as explosive and just as strong. Body fat percentage is obviously way down.”
Carwin, a former NCAA Division 2 wrestling champion, has heavy hands and can take a punch as he showed against Gabriel Gonzaga. The burly Brazilian broke his nose but Carwin regathered his wits and stopped him in the first round.
Carwin’s striking has improved. He started with raw power, which did not always work — at UFC 89 for example, he opted to take Neil Swain down to the ground after the British brawler hit him a few times.
He has added technique but acknowledges “I love to stand and bang. That’s the part that gets me excited.
“I think that’s where I like to test myself.”
Dos Santos will test Carwin’s chin and just about every other part of the body he can hit. The 27-year-old Brazilian is an accomplished striker — the best in the division according to Roy Nelson, his last victim.
“Somebody’s going to go down Saturday night,” said Carwin.
“I don’t think this is going to be a decision even though I would like to go three rounds to see what my body can do now.”
If the fighters remaining standing, Dos Santos likes his chances.
“He’s got good skills in boxing but I think I’m better than him,” he said.
“That’s why I think he’s going to try to take me down.”
And if Carwin wants to take the fight to the ground, Dos Santos points to his takedown defence and jiu-jitsu.
“I believe I can finish this fight — standup or on the ground.”
Dos Santos admits to some disappointment at missing out on Lesnar.
“Brock Lesnar is the former heavyweight champion and the most popular fighter in the world,” he said in English.
But he said after 10 months away from the cage — his schedule was disrupted by his and Lesnar’s roles as rival coaches on The Ultimate Fighter reality TV show — he is just happy to fight again.
He sees Lesnar and Carwin as having similar styles — with Carwin having heavier hands.
And despite Carwin’s new training regimen, Dos Santos believes he has the edge in stamina.
Saturday’s card at Rogers Arena has been overshadowed by Canucks fever. The fight card comes the day after Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final.