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One time UFC heavyweight title challenger Shane Carwin has announced on his blog that he's going to undergo back surgery and will not be able to fight again until 2012.
Carwin announced the news on his own web site.
"As I ramped up my training for UFC 141 my body locked up during training. It wasn't like the Lesnar fight but my back just tightened up and I froze. I scheduled an MRI and the results showed that my disc in my lower back is into the nerves . My doctor gave me two options; retire and I could probably go on for a few years without surgery or I could undergo surgery and continue my career.
"The decision was easy. I have unfinished business. The UFC had me lined up to face one of the best in the world and I am confident I have everything I need to be a Champion. I am scheduling surgery and I hope to return to the Octagon by spring or summer 2012," Carwin posted.
Carwin's UFC 141 fight hadn't been announced by the promotion, but it's likely he was slated to welcome one of the top Strikeforce heavyweights to the promotion.
Carwin is 36 years old and will be 37 before he is able to recuperate from surgery and return to action. He underwent neck surgery in November, 2010. His last UFC bout was a loss to Junior dos Santos at UFC 131. He faced Brock Lesnar for the title at UFC 116, falling to a second round arm triangle choke after utterly dominating the champ in the first round.