Lesnar-Carwin Unification Bout Official for UFC 116

UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will meet interim titleholder Shane Carwin in a blockbuster unification bout at UFC 116 “Lesnar vs. Carwin” on July 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The promotion on Tuesday made the matchup official.

“When people wonder why the heavyweights capture the imagination of all fight fans, it’s because of guys like Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin,” UFC President Dana White said in a release. “Not only are they great athletes and former national wrestling champions, but they both have the ability to end a fight with one punch. This is one of those fights that you won’t be able to turn away from because it can be over in a split second.”

Lesnar, 32, has not competed since he bludgeoned Frank Mir en route to a second-round technical knockout at UFC 100 in July. Honed by the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, the former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar stared down a life- and career-threatening intestinal disorder in late 2009 and early 2010. Lesnar was a four-time collegiate All-American wrestler and won a national championship as a heavyweight at the University of Minnesota in 2000. Since entering mixed martial arts in 2007, the 6-foot-3, 265-pound behemoth has rapidly become the sport’s biggest box office draw and already owns wins against UFC hall of famer Randy Couture and Pride Fighting Championships veteran Heath Herring.

Based alongside former middleweight King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt at the Grudge Training Center in Colorado, Carwin has finished all 12 of his opponents inside one round. The 35-year-old has 22-, 29-, 31-, 44- and 49-second wins on his pristine resume. A decorated amateur wrestler, he was a national champion at the Div. II level. Carwin captured the interim UFC heavyweight crown in March, when he knocked out Mir in a little less than four minutes at UFC 111. His ride-the-lightning punching power has turned him into one of the game’s most feared big men.