Shane Carwin has been out of action since his July 3rd title fight loss to Brock Lesnarat UFC 116. He was scheduled to fight Roy Nelson on New Year’s Day at UFC 125, but he elected for surgery to correct neck and back pain. UFC President Dana White revealed Carwin’s next opponent during a live chat for the Seattle Times:
As for Shane Carwin: Jon Olav Einemo. That’s his next opponent. He’s from Norway. He’s 6 foot 6, and he’s the Abu Dabi [sic] submission champion.
White did not reveal a date for the fight, but Carwin has been rumored to appear on theUFC 131 card in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Einemo is 6-1 in his MMA career, losing to Fabricio Werdum by decision in his most notable bout at Pride 31. He last fought in November of 2006, defeating James Thompson by armbar. Einemo is most famous for winning the Abu Dhabi submission grappling tournament in 2003.
From Jonathan Snowden’s MMA Encyclopedia:
With Einemo, there are constant rumors. He was always about to sign with UFC, Pride, DREAM, you name it. If there’s a major promotion in the world, Einemo has been rumored to appear there. Injuries and a regular job have kept him from pursuing MMA as a vocation. As he approaches his mid-thirties, the time for Einemo is now or never.With the expansion of MMA in Europe just beginning, it seems likely that Einemo will finally find an opportunity to make a run at fighting for a living, not just as a hobby.
Other scheduled bouts for UFC 131:
Brock Lesnar vs. Junior dos Santos
Mark Munoz vs. Demian Maia
Krzysztof Soszysnki vs. Anthony Perosh
Court McGee vs. Jesse Bongfeldt
Darren Elkins vs. Michihiro Omigawa
Mac Danzig vs. Donald Cerrone