When current heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar and interim title holder Shane Carwin step into the Octagon this Saturday, the UFC Heavyweight title wont be the only thing up for grabs.  

Fabricio Werdum shocked the MMMA world when he dethroned Fedor Emelianenko, who is widely considered the greatest heavyweight in MMA history.  

But after suffering his first legitimate loss to the hands of Werdum by way of triangle choke just 1:09 into the first round, "The Last Emperor" no longer has the invincible status that M-1 Global worked so hard to create.    

Now that Fedor has been deemed just a man and no longer reigns supreme as the best heavyweight in the world, the winner of Carwin vs. Lesnar could cement themselves as the king of heavyweights. 

Carwin has been tearing through the heavyweight division with back-to-back, knockout wins against Gabriel Gonzaga and Frank Mir.  With an impressive record of 12-0, no fighter has survived past the first round with the heavy hitting  Carwin. 

"I don't think any man can take one of my punches if it hits right," Carwin said when asked if Lesnar's chin could handle Carwin's power. 

Carwin received some heat for not doing any press on behalf of the UFC, but the guy still has a full-time job as an engineer, not to mention a wife and children.  It's remarkable that Carwin finds enough time to properly train let alone do UFC PR work, but Carwin did a significant amount of unsolicited press with the MMA media.  And in practically every interview on the web, it's clear that Carwin plans to keep Saturday's fight on the feet in hopes of leaving Lesnar staring up at the ceiling. 

Lesnar is coming off a year-long absence after struggling with a career-threatening, disease in diverticulitis that had the heavyweight thinking he may never fight again. 

"Last november I'm laying in the hospital for two weeks, didn't put any food in my mouth and wasn't sure if I was going to fight again," Lesnar said.  "I'm just blessed to be here."

Taking a considerable amount of time off may have not been all bad for Lesnar, however, as the fighter has completely changed his diet and his training regimen to become a more complete fighter. 

"I had to sit back and analyze my whole life and my pursuit to greatness in the sport and you have to evolve," Lesnar said.  "I want to go down as the best heavyweight in the world." 

Part of that big plan to be the best in the world, included a new diet that brought Lesnar, who used to walk around close to 300 pounds to a less bulky, 265-pounder. 

Interestingly enough, it will be Carwin that outweighs Lesnar on Saturday evening, a dilemma the champ has yet to face.  Carwin is also the only fighter in the UFC to require specially made gloves that are bigger than Lesnar's. 

This fight is insanely difficult to pick because of a laundry list of factors.  The first one being that Lesnar has been out of the MMA game for an entire year and as seen with several fighters, ring-rust is no joke. 

Next comes the biggest question mark in that neither fighter has been tested in areas that the other fighter is dominant.  Carwin has grenades underneath each of his gloves but Lesnar's chin has never been tested.  So, really, nobody knows if Lesnar has a chin made of iron like the rest of his body or if he'll collapse like all of Carwin's other opponents when he connects. 

Carwin, on the other hand, hasn't faced a fighter that has anywhere close to the credentials Lesnar holds in the wrestling department.  Gabriel Gonzaga, who isn't known for his wrestling ability, easily took Carwin down in their fight last March.  Although, Carwin immediately popped up to his feet, it's fair to say he would have a more difficult time getting out from under Lesnar. 

Lesnar wasn't able to just lay on Randy Couture, a world class wrestler, in dominant top position in 2008 as he did against Frank Mir last July.  And, although, nobody's seen Carwin's wrestling abilities in the UFC, it's regarded that he can hold his own on the ground as a former NCAA II National Champion. 

Lesnar has gotten used to the fact hat he can outmuscle anyone, and use his explosive speed and power to take opponents down and beat them to a pulp.  While a drop of nearly 40 pounds might make Lesnar more explosive and quicker, it may nullify his biggest asset -- size. 

The champ brought Peter Welch into his camp to help with his boxing but Carwin still clearly has the edge in that department.  Lesnar's best shot at coming away victorious is on the ground and with the new leaner Lesnar, mixed in with the long lay off and the question marks surrounding the effects his illness has on his body, I'm not sure Lesnar is going to be successful in taking Carwin down at will. 

It's going to be very hard to hit Lesnar if the champ solely focuses on taking Carwin down, but it seems like Lesnar is going to test his new standup game and that will ultimately be his downfall in Saturday night's fight.  With Carwin's ability to presumably stuff Lesnar's takedown attempts or at least escape them, it's only a matter of time before one of those enormously powerful fists connects. 

"He's got the real belt and I'm coming after it Saturday," Carwin said.  "You're going to see Brock Lesnar knocked out on the canvas." 

The greatest thing about MMA is that it's a sport of inches.  If a fighter zigged instead of zagged, moves an inch left instead of right, it could be the difference between winning and waking up to a little flashlight being shined in your eyes. 

Carwin made a statement a few weeks ago that few people would disagree with.

"One of us will need help leaving the Octagon." 

I just happen to think it's going to be Lesnar.