Knee Injury Forces Shane Carwin from ‘TUF 16’ Finale; UFC Seeking Opponent for Roy Nelson

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A knee injury has forced Shane Carwin to withdraw from his bout against rival coach Roy Nelson at “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 16 finale, according to UFC President Dana White.

“It never ends,” White wrote Wednesday on Twitter. “Carwin blew his knee out. Looking for a new opponent for Roy on the ‘TUF’ finale on FX.”

Carwin had been rehabbing a minor knee injury sustained in September, but the former UFC interim heavyweight champion was still expected to face Nelson at the Dec. 15 event, which takes place at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It is currently unknown if this latest development is related to Carwin’s previous injury.

Known for his strength and punching power, Carwin has struggled to stay healthy in recent years. The 37-year-old has competed just once since his failed bid to capture the undisputed heavyweight title from Brock Lesnar in July 2010. Carwin, who has undergone back and neck surgeries in order to continue his career, most recently competed against Junior dos Santos last summer at UFC 131. Dos Santos battered Carwin in that bout, taking a unanimous decision and handing the American just his second loss.

Nelson, 36, has won two of his last three fights, knocking out former Pride Fighting Championships star Mirko Filipovic to close out 2011 before kicking off this year with a unanimous decision defeat to the surging Fabricio Werdum. “Big Country” rebounded from that loss by posting a first-round stoppage of Dave Herman on May 26, starching the EliteXC veteran with an overhand right in just 51 seconds.