Former UFC interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin has hinted that he could be headed to Japanese promotion Rizin FF, while also revealing that discussions have taken place regarding a fight with the legendary Fedor Emelianenko.
“Hey @rizin_PR you are going to need bigger gloves, these do not fit, not even close!” Carwin wrote on Twitter alongside a picture of a new pair of ‘XL’ Rizin gloves.
The physically imposing Carwin, who used to fight at well over 300lbs at super-heavyweight early in his career, was known to have the largest hands in UFC history, requiring special 5XXL gloves – one size bigger than his equally enormous rival, Brock Lesnar.
Carwin also told a fan that just two weeks ago he was offered a fight with Fedor (though it doesn’t sound as if this was via Rizin), but it seems as if the chances are slim that it will actually happen.
“I did accept a fight with Fedor,” Carwin later clarified. “He likely won’t fight again. I meet with Rizin and they have a great offer but NOTHING is signed.”
Like Carwin, the 40 year-old Fedor also came out of retirement after several years on the sidelines, initially picking up a win over the unheralded Singh Jaideep at Rizin FF 1, then claiming a majority decision win over former UFC fighter Fabio Maldonado in Russia.
However, the result of that fight was extremely controversial, as Maldonado came extremely close to KO’ing ‘The Last Emperor’ and battered him from pillar to post in the opening round.
Given that Maldonado is a natural light-heavyweight who had lost three of his past four fights prior to fighting Fedor, it’s perhaps not surprising that the Russian is not exactly jumping at the chance to fight Carwin.
Nevertheless, at this stage it does seem as if Rizin is the most likely landing spot for Carwin, though it’d be surprising if Bellator didn’t attempt to make some kind of an offer as their heavyweight division is currently without a champion and is crying out for a big name fighter to breathe new life into that weight class.
As for Rizin, they have the likes of Mirko ‘Cro Cop’, Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal, Wanderlei Silva and James Thompson on-board currently, though it remains to be seen if any of them would be excited about facing one of the biggest, hardest-hitting fighters in heavyweight history.
Carwin warmed up for his imminent comeback last weekend with an exhibition boxing match with shock jock Jason Ellis, and despite being forced to have one arm taped to his body, the 41 year-old still ended up brutally knocking out the former professional skateboarder in the second round.
