Monday Morning Quarterback: Shane Carwin blew it

Before I get into my points, I want to give respect and props to Shane Carwin. Hell of a fight. You hit Brock Lesnar with your best shots. That's all we as an audience can ask. Well that and a full gas tank, but gas prices are high and I don't blame you for putting in five bucks worth to hold you until you get home. Maybe a little less Twitter and blogging next time. But those are not my focus here. Still, you had more power than I even gave you credit for and you showed improved stand up (maybe you did read my Break it Down after all) and showed good TDD. So as a fighter and a warrior, my hat is off to you.

So back to my title. Shane Carwin blew it. I'm not talking about winning the title, I'm talking about making himself a star. Carwin's faux pas had little to do with his actions during the fight and more to do with them afterwards. After Lesnar's heroic comeback (in the fight and in life), the champ gave a humble speech celebrating his resurrection as a fighter and as a human being. It was a startling (to some) 180 turn from the brash and cocky leviathan the fans are accustomed to seeing. Carwin, menawhile, followed with an f-bomb ladened, stumbling, incoherant promo. This was shades of Mark Coleman post-Fedor beatdown levels.

Here he was gifted a perfect opportunity to sell himself (outside of his blog and Twitter) to fans watching and generate buzz about him ensuring personal gain. He had a starmaking 1st round putting the champion on his ass and unleashing a barrage of punches. He did not win, but he showed that with some cardio work, he is a force in the HW division (inside of one round). A golden opportunity placed in his lap and he kicked it wide right. He possibly had a (not really legit) gripe that the fight should've been stopped and that he beat Lesnar like no one had (or possibly would). I know he has the natural charisma of Vickie from Small Wonder, but I know he had emotions inside. He had to be kicking himself over a missed opportunity. Convey those emotions to the fans. Endear youself to them and they will love you as you fight, bleed and die for them. There's no shame in losing. You connect to the heartstrings of the fans and they will love you for it.

Take a look at Stephan Bonner. He's lost seven of his last four fights. A fading star. In the eyes of most, this was his last shot as many predicted him being cut in a loss. He goes out there and he performs and wins. But the fighting was only half the performance, he then went and cut a beautiful speech basically buying himself five more losses in the UFC. Chris Leben goes out and basically does the same thing. Great performance and then a great promo afterwards. Fans remember the fights, but the pathos will cement your place as one of the greats.

The beating he gave Lesnar will fade overtime as the sport grows and grows and time fades like old photographs. He had the opportunity to really strengthen his legacy as a fighter. In a sport of blood and broken bones, it's amazing how much emotional connections can make your future brighter. Shane Carwin is not a young man. His time in this sport is not long. But he has an opportunity to carve himself out a nice legacy (and financial security) in the time he does have. Unfortunately, that ability will stymied if he can't connect with the fans. His biggest (and maybe greatest) opportunity to do so was at UFC 116. Shane Carwin blew it.