Shane Carwin, Former UFC Heavyweight Champ, Retires From MMA

Former UFC Heavyweight champion Shane Carwin has put an end on his Mixed Martial Arts career, formally announcing his retirement this week.

The 38-year old Carwin officially retired from the sport after racking up 12 victories in 14 fights inside the Octagon.

The former top-rated Heavyweight fighter was best remembered for his bouts against a couple of Heavyweight champion: Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos.

Carwin became a staple name in the MMA world after winning his first 12 UFC fights, all in the first round.

His victory against former Heavyweight elite Gabriel Gonzaga (TKO punches) and former champ Frank Mir (punches) allowed him to capture the UFC interim belt while Lesnar was trying to recover from monoclenosis

In his unification battle with Lesnar, Carwin controlled the bout early on with takedowns and pound-and-ground attacks but he eventually lost the fight after he tapped out on Lesnar's armbar in the second round.

Unfortunately for Carwin, he had never been the same again since his loss to Lesnar. He lost his last title shot against Dos Santos in 2011 and underwent two surgeries to address issues in his back and neck. He tried to make a return in the Octagon but injuries continued to bother him for two years.

Carwin was originally scheduled to face Roy Nelson last December but he withdrew from that match after suffering a knee injury. Carwin and Nelson served as the coaches on Season 16 of reality MMA show 'The Ultimate Fighter.'

Known as a hard punching brawler, Carwin has a solid background in wrestling and boxing along with his purple belt in Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu.

He made a smashing MMA debut after submitting Carlton Jones at WEC 17 in 2005.

Carwin thanked his family, friends and fans for their support throughout his 8-year MMA career.

"Officially retired [today]," the 38-year-old Carwin said on Twitter, according to ESPN. "Thank you to my family, friends and fans! God bless!"