By Mike Chiappetta
- Senior Writer
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Less than 72 hours since
Shane Carwin beat Frank Mir to set up a UFC heavyweight championship showdown with
Brock Lesnar, the early odds are favoring the current champ to hold off the challenger and hold on to his belt.
Though the fight is not yet official, UFC President Dana White told MMA Fighting late last Saturday night
that the company was aiming for UFC 116, which takes place on July 3. The early line makes Lesnar a more than 2-to-1 favorite.
Bodog became the first sports book to set a line, and they have installed Lesnar as a -225 favorite. Carwin, the interim champion who will be considered the challenger in the title unification bout, is listed as +185 underdog.
Lesnar (4-1) has not fought since last July's UFC 100, when he defended his title with a second-round TKO of Frank Mir. The 32-year-old was knocked out of action for several months after a bout of diverticulitis threatened his career and resulted in an over 40-pound weight loss. He was cleared to resume training in January and has recently stated he is 100 percent healthy.
Carwin improved his record to 12-0 by smashing Mir in just 3:48 of the first round at
UFC 111. All 12 of his victories have come inside of the first round. At 6-foot-2 and over 265 pounds and a former collegiate wrestling national champion, Carwin is one of few UFC heavyweights with the size and power to rival that of Lesnar.
UFC 116 will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Read More: ufc 111, ufc 116, news, Brock Lesnar (MMA), Shane Carwin (MMA)
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