UFC heavyweight title hopeful Shane Carwin recently took time out of his busy training camp to discuss his training camp, his upcoming fight and the future.  Carwin will fight former champion Frank Mir at UFC 111 to determine who will become the UFC interim heavyweight champion.

“Really good, the coaches and teammates have been pushing me pretty hard,” Carwin told MMA HQ.  “I feel like I am getting better and somehow I also feel like I have light years to go.  It is really hard to perfect this craft and every fight and opponent will possess its own certain set of obstacles and how we overcome them really kind of defines us.”

Frank Mir is a talented BJJ fighter, but has increased his muscle mass and improved his standup, which has made him more well rounded.  Mir beat Lesnar via kneebar in 2008 and finished Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira by TKO before getting pummeled to death by Lesnar in a rematch last July.

He made a strong comeback in December by submitting Cheick Kongo with a deep guillotine choke just 1:12 into the first round.

“I was thinking I could throw him off with a flying triangle attempt and see where we go from there,” Carwin joked.  “I would love to stand and trade with Frank, I think the stand up is going to be in my favor.  I don’t think he will want to do that so it will be BJJ black belt vs. wrestler with three years of BJJ.  He should have the edge in the submission game.  Plus he is certain to have a better hair-do than me come fight night, so he will have that edge.”

Despite Mir’s constant statements about Brock Lesnar, Carwin is still expecting the best from Mir when they meet inside the cage.

“Frank is a pretty smart guy and I know he will be ready for me.  He will be hungry because he knows I am the path to Brock.  We intend to show up expecting to see the best Frank Mir ever and we think we have the right game plan to win this fight.  It will be my job to execute that game plan.”

Both fighters know there is a lot on the line, as Carwin believes he deserves to have a crack at Lesnar.  Mir desperately seeks another chance to earn his heavyweight title back while proving he’s the best heavyweight in the UFC.

Until the fight is finally over, Carwin is focused on Mir.  “I really can’t even think past Frank.  Brock is the champ so in many ways he is in all of our minds, but my focus is Frank.  When my body aches I think about the fight with Frank – when my coaches are pushing me and I don’t think I can give them anything more – I think of the fight with Frank.  This is my biggest fight and biggest test to date.  It is all I am thinking about.”

UFC 111 will be the first UFC PPV to be shown in movie theaters on the big screen.  Carwin admitted he isn’t familiar with the details, but said if it expands the UFC reach then it’s a good decision.

“For me I love heading to a Buffalo Wild Wings or catching a PPV with some friends and making an event out of it.  Usually (if I am not training) there is a Bud Light involved.  I think it would be cool if they grabbed fighters from the various cities and have them at the theaters watching the fights with the fans.”

Shane wanted to thank the following sponsors.  “Beaver Buzz Energy Drinks, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition, MTX Audio, Nightrider Jewelry, Performance MMA, my agent Jason Genet, and everyone from the Grudge Training Center, UNC Wrestling and Easton’s BJJ.  These guys mean the world to me and if my fans would support them i would appreciate it.