UFC heavyweight contender Shane Carwin has been forced out of his UFC 125 bout against Roy Nelson.
Carwin announced the news via his official website earlier today.
“I am going to pull out of the fight with Roy Nelson. As many of you know I have been having some back pain. I had an MRI yesterday and I have some damage that may really require surgery,” Carwin said. “If the doctors do not have to perform surgery then I will be out 8-12 weeks. If they do have to perform surgery I do not know how long I will be out of action.”
The heavyweight contender, who is known for his devastating power and vicious knockouts, decided to withdraw after he learned of a back injury following an MRI, and surgery appears to be around the corner. Carwin also said on his site that if surgery is not required, he will be back after two to three months of recovery, while surgery would keep him out of action indefinitely.
The promotion’s first event of 2011 seems to be following the trend of this year’s first event, UFC 108. The card was brutalized time and time again due to injuries to several of the expected participants.
However, UFC 125, which is set for New Year’s Day in Las Vegas, Nevada and headlined by a lightweight title fight between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, has not been riddled with injuries in the same manner as last January’s event, but the loss of Carwin leaves the promotion in search for a new co-main event and a new opponent for Nelson. With over two months left before the event, the UFC will undoubtedly be able to find Nelson a replacement and lock down an intriguing co-main event.
