Pros Pick: Lesnar vs. Carwin

Bill Mesi: I’m picking Carwin solely based on the fact that I wish ill things to happen to Brock. There, I said it, and I feel better about it.

Amilcar Alves: In my opinion, Shane Carwin wins by having much more speed and volume during the fight. The only concern he should have is in relation to the exceptional explosion and the heavy hands of Brock Lesnar. But I think Shane Carwin is more rhythmic and can maintain a better pace. I think Shane wins by decision.

Lee Mein: I think both guys are going to be so scared of each other’s power that they will stand back and not engage each other, causing the crowd to boo and the fight to end in a unanimous draw. It could happen (laughs).

James Zikic: Now we’re going to see Brock’s chin tested, and it will be interesting to see how the layoff has affected him. Shane is a great finisher, but I think Brock is probably made of sterner stuff. I go for Brock via second-round TKO.

Rick Roufus: I’m picking Carwin big by KO [with a] right hand.

Gustavo Machado: I think Carwin wins. Although Lesnar is stronger, he has no technique and tries to knock people down. I believe in Carwin standing. If he lands a punch, Lesnar drops.

Stephane Vigneault: I see in Carwin finally somebody to take that belt from Lesnar. Big right hand from Carwin, then Lesnar is hurt and finished by TKO ground-and-pound referee stoppage. Carwin over Lesnar, TKO round two.

Gabe Ruediger: Going with Carwin. This fight should be interesting, and if it gets out of two rounds, it will be surprising.

Jess Liaudin: Carwin by dragon punch in the second. He’s been a more active fighter, and his boxing is sharper. On top of that, he’s got Master Yoda in his corner. Umm, I mean Greg Jackson.

Anthony Leone: Lesnar is a better grappler, and that will wear on Carwin through the fight. Lesnar in the third round by TKO, but anything is possible in this fight.

Thales Leites: I think it will be a tough fight, but I bet and hope for a KO victory for Carwin.

Robin Black: The concept of these 943-pound behemoths beating the “scheisse” out of each other is a little unsettling. You almost don’t want to watch it, but let’s face it, you have to. Carwin will win by first-round KO. Then he’ll eat a brontosaurus burger with his crazy-big Flintstones hands.

Kit Cope: I’m thinking the same thing that most of the people I know are thinking, which is that, finally, here’s somebody big enough and strong enough to get that gigantic phallic tattoo out of our faces. Carwin and his lunchbox hands should be able to get the job done. This ends by knockout early, unless Brock can hold Shane down for a minute. In that case, it ends by KO a minute into the second round after Lesnar’s spent.

Adam Singer: I have to admit that I have no idea who is going to win. I just had dinner with Forrest Griffin and Todd Duffee, and neither one had any idea, so I am going to go with the bigger puncher. I will take Carwin by KO, round one.

Johnny Eduardo: Shane wins. Brock is more limited, despite being very explosive. I think Carwin keeps up the pressure and can win by knockout.

Elvis Sinosic: This should be a great fight. It has so many interesting factors. It’s a unification bout. Both guys are the biggest guys in the division. Both are strong, hit hard and are very good wrestlers. Usually when two wrestlers fight, it turns into a slugfest, and that potential alone makes it interesting. It will also be a real test on the cage to see how it handles two behemoths crashing up against it. Now, points for and against. Both have beaten Frank Mir dominantly. Carwin has the better record with more matches and no losses. Carwin put away Gonzaga. Lesnar put away [Randy] Couture. Lesnar probably edges the quality of wins barely with Couture a better fighter than Gonzaga (notable differences in their top wins). Lesnar will probably be the bigger guy on the night, but will it be enough to make any difference? Both guys have great chins and have come back from being hit. Carwin seems to get hit more than Lesnar does. Both are top-notch wrestlers, with Lesnar having the better credentials. Carwin has the one-shot-good-night ability. Carwin has never gone the distance. Lesnar can and has gone the distance. Lesnar is coming off serious illness and a long time off. There are a lot of factors going into this match. Both guys are big and dangerous fighters. Carwin has the ability to end this with one shot, as he has done so many times previously. Lesnar has shown that his chin is made of granite, and that may not be enough. Carwin has been put on his back by lesser wrestlers. Carwin has been dropped, though [he has] shown great ability to recover. The edge should be to Carwin, as he ends all his fights. He has more fights and no losses, so, on paper, Carwin would be the obvious choice. If he ends it with one shot, I won’t be surprised, either, as he has those hands of granite. Saying that, I think Brock will win this. As long as he sticks to his wrestling and doesn’t get sucked into slugging away with Carwin, he should win this. He will press Carwin against the cage to tire him out. He will work to put Carwin on his back and pepper him with punches. He will slowly wear Carwin down. He will most likely win via TKO in the second or third round with ground-and-pound.

Charlie Brenneman: My gut is saying Carwin. I think his hands are better than Lesnar’s, and he’ll be tough to take down. Every other time I’ve picked against Carwin, I’ve lost. Carwin by KO, round one.

Scott Bieri: Darryl Dawkins and Shaquille O’Neal broke backboards. These two have the potential to break cages. Brock by Death Clutch.

Vitor Ribeiro: I think Carwin wins. I think Lesnar will want to take him down fast and will leave an opening for the heavy hands of Carwin.

Derrick Noble: While working my second job as a janitor at the local university, I noticed a difficult mathematical problem written on the chalkboard in the hallway. I was actually born with a gift of being able to solve these types of equations, so I took it upon myself to answer the problem. The next week a new, more difficult problem was on the board. As I finished answering the problem, the professor came out of his room, only to see me writing on the board. Since I don’t like the attention my genius brings, I ran away quickly to avoid confrontation. Later that week, the professor tracked me down, and to my surprise, it was Nick Thompson. I told Nick I like to solve math problems, but I also have a bad temper and get into fights. I explained my current situation in which I was going to trial for assaulting a police officer. Nick used his pull and convinced the judge to go lenient on me if I agreed to see a therapist. Nick introduced to his old college roommate, who agreed to help me with my inner demons. Throughout our sessions, we spoke a lot about upcoming MMA fights. We began analyzing the upcoming Lesnar-Carwin fight. I told Sean that I think Carwin will win this after he survives an early ground-and-pound attack in the first round. Sean agreed with my assessment of the fight. Normally, it would be hard for me to open up with my thoughts on upcoming MMA fights, but Sean has taught me that the demons I deal with are not my fault, and it’s OK to be open up with my fight predictions. I pick Carwin by round-two TKO.

Pros who picked Lesnar: 14
Pros who picked Carwin: 38
Pros who couldn’t decide: 9

Contact Mike at www.facebook.com/mikesloan19 or follow him on twitter @mikesloan19. Gleidson Venga and Brian Knapp contributed to this report.