Shane Carwin
Active 2009–2011 · rated in 1 edition · peak overall 82.0
Scouting report
Capturing an NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championship before maintaining an undefeated 12-0 professional record where every fight ended in round one, Shane Carwin brought power to the heavyweight ranks. Hailing from Greeley, Colorado, Carwin knocked out Frank Mir to win the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship, his power and wrestling base reflected in a 96 Strength and 88 Wrestling, sustaining an 82 Overall score.
Peak ratings
Shane Carwin, two rounds of hard punching
Shane Carwin was a wrestler from Colorado who used his strength to win by knockout. He stopped Gabriel Gonzaga in 2009 and Frank Mir in 2010 to become the interim heavyweight champion. He then hit Brock Lesnar hard early in their 2010 title unification fight and could not finish him, and Lesnar took over in the second round with an arm triangle. Junior dos Santos beat him by decision in 2011. He is a pick when you want early ferocity.
Every Carwin number, explained
Boxing. Strong. Wrestling base plus heavy hands made his punches land with unusual force.
Kickboxing. The lowest number on his card. He did not use kicks much and had little to fall back on if the first punch missed.
Wrestling. Very good. He could take a man down and control him long enough to work strikes.
BJJ. Ordinary. He was more comfortable holding position than hunting submissions.
Strength. The highest rating on his card. He could handle giant frames and throw them around.
Durability. Held up early against Lesnar and other big men.
Cardio. The clear concern. His Lesnar fight is the best example of a fast start followed by a slow finish.
Fight IQ. Reasonable. He understood his advantages and used them.
Power that ends fights before the plan matters
A 96 in Strength, combined with 88 in Boxing and 88 in Wrestling, makes him a real threat in the first round. He has the upper body to slam and the hands to finish. In matchups where the opponent is an unproven quantity, he can decide it before either of them has time to adjust.
Kickboxing leaves him one dimensional
At 65, Kickboxing is his lowest number, and his game runs through a small set of tools. A patient striker who can circle away from the right hand gets a chance to make him work for the takedown. That is what happens when a fight goes long, so consider what you have behind him.
Keep exploring
Closest heavyweight profiles to Shane Carwin, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Brock Lesnarbest strength 98 · weakest kickboxing 66
- Derrick Lewisbest strength 96 · weakest bjj 64
- Alexandr Romanovbest strength 92 · weakest kickboxing 66
- Antonio Silvabest strength 90 · weakest kickboxing 72
- Heavyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Shane Carwin's strongest attribute, Strength.
Draft Shane Carwin into your build
Shane Carwin enters the pool on any spin landing on heavyweight between 2010 and 2013. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Shane Carwin is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Shane Carwin's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.