Shane Carwin, Part Time Fighter - UPDATED
by ufc4 on Jun 18, 2009 1:50 AM EDT
74 comments
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I heard after his match at UFC 96 with Gabe Gonzaga in which he had a crushing KO over the former HW title contender that Shane Carwin had quit his job as an engineer to train full time. Well apparently not, from his Twitter page:
still sick but back at work today. tough part of being a FT fighter and FT worker is I use most of my sick days traveling to fights.
I can't remember where I heard that he had quit his job but I know I remember it being discussed. I wish the UFC would give guys like Shane a little more financial support so he could concentrate 100% of his time and energy to becoming the best fighter he can be, what if the guy is granted a title shot but still has to work 40 hours a week to make ends meet? I think it robs the fans of seeing the best Shane Carwin there is. Maybe they should have granted him a gift FOTN bonus like they did to Mark Coleman and Shogun Rua, perhaps with the extra $60,000 he could afford to become a full time fighter.
***UPDATE***
So me and a few other commenters had somewhat of a debate over wether Carwin was still working his engineering job because he wanted to or because he had to because his UFC pay was not enough to make ends meet. Mea culpa guys, apparently you were right. I decided to go straight to the source and ask Carwin himself via his Twitter page, here's what I came up with:
ufc4@shanecarwin shane I have been having a debate with some people and was hoping you would be willing to clarify a few things...ufc4@shanecarwin do you work at ur engineering job cuz u love the job or cuz u have to supplement your fight income to make ends meet?
ufc4@shanecarwin and by still working FT are you able to train as much as other fighters whose only job is fighting? Hope I'm not being too nosy
His response:
@ufc4 I train as much or more then any other ft fighter. Being a potential top 10 draft and having that dissapear taught me a lot. UFC pay@ufc4 Ufc pay is actually very good just not all fully disclosed.
So there you have it folks, I have no problem admitting when I am wrong and apparently Shane is just a tireless worker who is lucky enough to have two jobs that are both very important to him. I'm a big fan of this guy and I think he has what it takes to make it to the top, hopefully we will see him in a title match very soon, a fight between he and Brock Lesnar would be epic.
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Carwin did officially make $32,000 for beating Gabe – that damn deaf wrestler won KO of the night.
I have no idea regarding his contract situation, but he’s fixing for a big time raise.
by subo on Jun 16, 2009 9:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Plus, he enjoys his other job:
It makes it interesting day to day, you know, inside and outside (the office). I went to school for a reason, so I can have a job like this. I love my job.
by Graven Image on Jun 16, 2009 9:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s great, and he will have that to fall back on once his fighting career is over, but if he is serious about becoming the UFC champ the clock is ticking, this guy is already 32 and not getting any younger. If he wants to be the best he needs to put his all into it right now because he is at his physical peak at this point in time.
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 16, 2009 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
…if he is serious about becoming the UFC champ the clock is ticking, this guy is already 32…
This has more to do with Dana than Carwins job, I believe.
by mythbuster on Jun 16, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think so, like I said earlier, what if he is granted the next title shot but still has to work full time to pay the bills? Is he going to be as prepared as he needs to be to put up the best fight possible? I don’t see how he could be.
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 16, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That depends how you answer that question. What if he has enough money to pay the bills, and works as his second job because he enjoys it? Then, when offered the title shot, he can quit/hiatus/whatever to train full time.
In any event, we would never know until he got the shot, which he hasn’t. So, thus far, it’s on Danas shoulders, not Shanes.
by mythbuster on Jun 16, 2009 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just don’t see how that could be the case, how many other top fighters have other jobs? He’s working because he needs to, nobody has enough hours in the week to train full time and work a 40 hour job.
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 16, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s working because he needs to, nobody has enough hours in the week to train full time and work a 40 hour job.
Very definite statement. Sources you can cite?
by mythbuster on Jun 16, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Obviously it’s an assumption but like I said, how many other top fighters have full time jobs that you know of? I seriously doubt he’d still be doing it if he didn’t have to.
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 16, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is my point — you are basing your reality on assumptions. As I said, it’s entirely possible that he enjoys what he does. This is not unheard of. There are many people in this world who don’t need the money, and yet choose to work because they enjoy it.
How many other top fighters have second jobs? I have no idea. But I know that many top fighters do things like party, play video games, spend time with their family, etc.. It is not inconceivable that Carwin chooses to work rather do these other things.
The one thing that I do know, is that he hasn’t had a title shot yet and, again, that’s on Dana (or Joe Silva), not Carwin.
by mythbuster on Jun 16, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s not just about the title shot, what about his fight against Gonzaga? He was a very formidable threat and he needed to get through him if he wants a title shot, obviously the more time he trained the better chance he had of winning. And do other top fighters party or play video games 40 hours a week? I doubt it.
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 16, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
its a pretty safe assumption, really. the guy got paid $32k once…big whoop. figure the pay at ufc 89 was somewhere between what he made at ufc 84 and 96: hes made a known, what, 70,000 as a fighter? maybe with the other fights he had he probably made 100k total in his career. meanwhile hes on his second wife, so he probably pays the baby momma alimony and child support. even with endorsments thats its not easy to support a new family plus your old one, especially if you got a real job already. lot of dudes are in this boat. ive heard stories about dean jardine winning in the ufc and then being at the laundromat the next day washing his clothes.
look, the ufc cant go supporting every guy they sign. lots of people in boxing and mma have day jobs if youre not at the top. thats the way it is. look at every dude roy jones fought – it was a joke because every other guy was a civil servant. one night a garbageman, the next a police officer. is it gonna affect carwin? probably. anybody who cant devote their time to camp entirely is gonna be at a disadvantage to people who can. but thats not dana whites problem and its not his job to baby people.
by nigelzackit on Jun 17, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You’re also making assumptions, and coming to bizarre conclusions.
anybody who cant devote their time to camp entirely is gonna be at a disadvantage to people who can. but thats not dana whites problem and its not his job to baby people.
No idea where this came from, but ummm okay…
Anyway, Carwin is an engineer. $$$.
by mythbuster on Jun 17, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
whats bizarre about it? you get divorced, you often pay alimony, especially if youre a high paid engineer. have a kid, you pay child support. we know what he makes in the ufc. if you want to believe an elite athlete holds down a day job for a reason other than money, good deal, dude. i dont. makes carwin smarter than most though – at least he has a future aside from punching bag.
i also think we agree on the principal that its not the ufcs job to make sure fighters all make so much they would never work.
by nigelzackit on Jun 17, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not really you want money and fame go out and focus all your energy on being the best, that’s what Carwin needs to do he’s close to a title shot so all his attention needs to be on MMA not his day job.
by Raker on Jun 16, 2009 10:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s easy to say when you don’t have to make his mortgage payment, this isn’t a guy making $150,000 a fight like some of the other guys.
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 16, 2009 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Depending on what kind of engineering he is doing and where he works he might be making that much at his other job though.
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s true, but whatever he’s making he apparently isn’t making enough fighting to live comfortably off of.
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 17, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s got two degrees, Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Technology, he shouldn’t be hurting for money. That’s not to mention that he obviously loves what he went to school for. This isn’t Jens Pulver’s situation this is a guy who makes good money to start with and is fighting because he wants to fight.
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We also shouldn’t forget that he’s only had three fights in the UFC and only one against a contender level fighter, $32,000 a fight is pretty good money for a guy who is that new to the company and still hasn’t had but one big fight.
Let us not forget about the volunteer assistant-coaching position he holds down with the University of Northern Colorado wrestling team.
http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/the-nicest-monster-youll-ever-meet-16453
So he’s a guy that works a full time job and is a full time fighter and still finds time to be a volunteer assistant wrestling coach too, I guess he just likes to stay busy.
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dude, two degrees ain’t worth what it used to be. I have two degrees and I’m still a low-level government analyst.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Jun 17, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Two engineering degrees is much better than what a lot of people have to work off of.
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You want to be the best you have to sacrifice to get there, if he doesn’t than he can go back to his day job and leave the sport i’m beyond tired of the crying about money in MMA.
by Raker on Jun 16, 2009 11:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think anyone is crying about the money, I just think when you have a guy like Carwin who the UFC is clearly behind and building towards a title shot they should be able to afford to train full time.
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 16, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe he needs health insurance for wear and tear during training?
by MMAEruption on Jun 17, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
he said he's training full time and working full time..
but doesn’t that mean he really isn’t full time? hahaha.
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 17, 2009 2:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
My old man used to work 80 hour weeks on his old job…I think people are underestimating how much Carwin does. It’s called losing sleep people, if you are determined enough, you can work and train full time, it’s just gonna be weird hours.
by kyfm621 on Jun 17, 2009 3:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i mean, how can you be a full time fighter
if you have a day job?
that’s not full time cause you aren’t fully devoted to that job (fighting).
and fully devoted meaning even if he spends the same hours compared to the regular full time fighter, imagine how much time he could spend training for a fight if he quit his day job.. That would make him full time for reals..
right? or am i not making any sense?
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 17, 2009 4:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Training 80 hours a week...
and working as an engineer 80 hours a week are two very different things.
If he were to apply another 40 hours of training to his schedule he would double (perhaps even more than that) his risk of injury as his fatigue levels and time spent doing physical activity increases.
He does just fine for himself now, and if the guy wants to keep his day job then let him. I love doing what I’m doing (Engineering ironically enough) and if for some reason I won the lottery I would still likely keep my job. That said it would be on my terms and I would never work an hour of overtime ever again.
by B Money on Jun 17, 2009 5:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I know that. I’m talking about the literal meaning of “full time fighter”..
Regardless of hours worked, Doesn’t having a day job mean he really isn’t full time?
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 17, 2009 8:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Regardless of hours worked, Doesn’t having a day job mean he really isn’t full time?
No.
by mythbuster on Jun 17, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed; for me “full time” isn’t some arbitrary number. And it doesn’t become mutually exclusive to an activity that doesn’t occur at the same time as the “full time job”. We all know full time jobs actually only take up a fraction of a person’s week.
Other than money, I haven’t seen much of an attempt to break down a potential scenario by numbers. Let’s throw some numbers around, starting with 24 hours in a day x 7 days in a week = 168 hours in the week
Say 7 hours of sleep per day and another 3 hours for meals, showers, etc. = 70 hours out of the week
Full time job = 40 hours out of the week (generous considering that we’ve already accounted for meals)
Assume that on an AVERAGE week (not preparing for a fight), a fighter will train 90 minutes before work, 90 minutes in the evening, and 2.5 hours per day on the weekend = 20 hours out of the week
That’s only 130 hours out of the week (average of less than 19 hours per day of predetermined time). Like B Money said above, if he trained a lot more than that on average, he’d really be risking hurting himself or overtraining. He could tack on another 30+ hours per week (about 4 hours PER DAY) of training while gearing up for a fight without even missing work. People might say that he’d have no life, when would he shop, whatever. Fact is, if the man loves his job and his primary hobby is his OTHER job, he can do both and still have some time during the average day for essentials. Obviously, I’m just pulling numbers out of the air, but I think I’ve been pretty generous in most places. It’s doable; just unusual.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Jun 17, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
man, northern colorado has some less than impressive cage rats.
by nigelzackit on Jun 17, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
From the UG:
those are from last weekend at an autograph session at wild west motor sports
by Nick Thomas on Jun 17, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Poor guy can’t even afford pants without holes in them.
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
C’mon, don’t you have a beat up old pair of jeans that are just so damn comfortable you can’t let them go?
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Jun 17, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only all of them. I’m a big fan of comfortable.
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look at the size of the fucking paw on that guy. It almost goes from that girls’s slde boob to her waist!
by subo on Jun 17, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I believe he and Brock wear the same size 3XL glove.
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 17, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
4 or 5XL
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Jun 18, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think carwins are bigger by one size.
Hello, Japan!
by Mr.Kib on Jun 18, 2009 4:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lesnar – 4xl
carwin – 5xl
http://www.mma-collective.com/
by schizosmurf on Jun 18, 2009 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Remember
Yes he may have been paid 32K for his fight, but after he pays out for trainers, managers, taxes or whatever expenses he’s obligated to pay, he ends up with about half of his purse. 70k now becomes 35 and like someone said, with mortgage, alimony, child support and every day bills, it doesn’t go that far. he said in his pre-fight interview he works all day, trains for an hour in one place and drives 45 minutes to another and he does it every day. Everybody knows gas ain’t cheap.
by jayhoff2000 on Jun 17, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m a bit confused at the desire for some of you guys to paint him as a broke homeless guy. I don’t get it.
by mythbuster on Jun 17, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s had 3 UFC fights why isn’t he a millionaire yet?
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He also has other source(s) of income.
But as I said: “I’m a bit confused at the desire for some of you guys to paint him as a broke homeless guy. I don’t get it.”
by mythbuster on Jun 17, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i dont think working while fighting makes you broke and homeless. he might just have a lifestyle that costs money. for all anyone knows he has a 12000 tube amp in his stereo system.
by nigelzackit on Jun 17, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and for all you know, he doesn’t.
And I don’t care. I just have two points on this:
1: It’s the UFCs fault that Carwin hasn’t gotten a title shot yet, not Carwins.
2: He may or may not be broke, but I can’t understand why some of you are so determined to prove that he has no money.
by mythbuster on Jun 17, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
whatever money he has is probably unrelated to the ufc, which happens to be who he fights for. but we agree about him not “deserving” a million billion dollars just for getting in the cage. no reason to get snippy, man.
by nigelzackit on Jun 17, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But shouldn’t guys who punch Gabe Gonzaga in the face instantly become wealthy and not in need of other sources of income? Obviously he’s living in a box on the roadside. I mean come on he’s had a fight on the main card doesn’t he get a mansion and a title shot? Do you honestly think that guy with two engineering dergrees actually wants to work as an engineer? That makes no sense at all, he has to be working a job that uses his education because he’s broke. There could be no other explaination at all but that he’s homeless and broke and it’s all the UFC’s fault.
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’m thinking we should start a collection drive for him, if we all collected our spare change maybe he could get through these tough times. Pennies for Carwin.
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sounds like a plan
I’ll contact orphanages and see if they can donate some money.
by mythbuster on Jun 17, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, you two are really blowing this way out of proportion aren’t you? I don’t recall anyone saying we should feel sorry for the guy or he is broke, obviously he lives comfortably but you make it out like he would be well off simply by fighting and I don’t think that’s the case. Nobody has tried to prove that he doesn’t have money, all my point is is that he needs to supplement his income from the UFC by continuing to work his other job full time. I don’t see why you keep bringing up the point of not having gotten a title shot, even if he did what makes you sure he would train full time? If he wouldn’t do it for Gonzaga why would he do it for Frank Mir or Brock Lesnar?
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 17, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
After a weekend of way too serious Cro Cop debate and internet bluster I am just goofing, it’s been one of those days.
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well I was mainly referring to mythbuster who is doing everything in his power to make it seem like I am making it sound like Carwin is waiting in line at the soup kitchen.
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 18, 2009 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea I was funning with him too. Got a new job today and my sister had a baby, I was in the mood for cutting up and found some easy targets. Shame I have no photoshop skills or I would of really had a bit of fun with Carwin living in a cardboard box :D
Nice update from Carwin there too, yet another guy giving the heads up on the fact that UFC actual pay is a lot better than what the SAC reports say.
by who me on Jun 18, 2009 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not trying to paint him as broke or homeless. people on this thread are saying Carwin needs to quit his job and train as a full time fighter. Because he’s not making six figures per fight, he can’t do it and sustain his every day lifestyle over a long period of time.
by jayhoff2000 on Jun 17, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
shhh. let them do their internet high fives as they slay the strawman. it is entertaining.
by nigelzackit on Jun 17, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Median household income in the US is $ 50,740 if he was making 6 figures a fight then he would be in the 95th percentile of households. What kind of lifestyle is he living where he has to be in the top 5% of US household incomes to maintain it?
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 2:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Drive
A guy who earns two degrees, holds a full time job, has a family, trains and competes at a high level, and has time volunteer as a coach clearly has a lot of drive. Guys like that don’t take early retirement to watch the grass grow, regardless of their personal wealth.
I’ve read interviews with Carwin in which he stated that he wants to have something to do after his MMA career, which he estimates can’t last more than ten years due to wear and tear. If you take ten years off from engineering to get punched in the head, you will have a very tough time getting back in. Staying in makes perfect sense.
Also, a side concern is heatlhcare – in the U.S., you’re better off having someone else pay for it.
I’m glad Carwin has the foresight to set himself up for a long and satisfying life, not just a great MMA career. Good for him.
cheers,
Andrew
by outlander78 on Jun 17, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly.
There is more to life than just the money, this guy has the drive to do multiple things that he loves to do. He really doesn’t sound like he is unhappy with his situation, This is a guy making time for all the different things he loves to do, including using his college degree.
by who me on Jun 17, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn’t twitter a bad ass tool when it comes to contacting fighters? Thats one thing I really love about MMA, the athletes don’t have a holier than thou attitude, and are approachable.
by kyfm621 on Jun 18, 2009 8:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What other sport could you go straight to the source like that and ask them a question?
by who me on Jun 18, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
CFL!
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Jun 18, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He said a sport.
j/k you crazy canadians!
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Jun 18, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh, and rec'd
Some other interesting things from his twitter (thanks for the link, btw)
“sounds right 6am run, work, lift at lunch, work, train till 10ish”
“when I was trying out for the NFL I was a single dad. I am used to working hard.”
(in reply to: “Hopefully soon you can get rid of the working and concentrate fully on fighting.”)
“never gonna happen. I give both ft treatment now but I’ll never walk away from the job”
by mythbuster on Jun 18, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it’s pretty cool that he loves both jobs. Makes him a more interesting, relatable figure, at least in my eyes.
by An Old Friend on Jun 18, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks guys
I figured why not get the answer straight from the horse’s mouth, you know? I saw him reply to some other people on Twitter so I decided to give it a shot and he was nice enough to write back fairly quickly. He seems like a genuinely good guy and I’m rooting for him, it would be interesting to see him in a longer fight, the guy has never even made it halfway through the first round, he has won all his fights in under two and a half minutes. If his next fight isn’t for the title I hope they give him somebody with a name that will make the fans interested in watching and hopefully raise his profile with the casual fans.
Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot
by ufc4 on Jun 18, 2009 11:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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