UFC on FOX 3 Results: Is Lavar Johnson the Next Shane Carwin?

Lavar Johnson's sophomore effort in the UFC looked an awful lot like his debut. Johnson knocked out Pat Barry late in the first round with an impressive flurry of uppercuts and hooks.

With the win Johnson improves his UFC record to 2-0 and and notches another first-round finish.

Despite being placed in some disadvantageous positions on the ground—Barry worked for a kimura in side control that appeared to be tight—Johnson was able to get the fight back to the feet. Once there, Johnson backed Barry into the cage and let loose with power punches. That was the beginning of the end for Barry.

While a win on national television is huge for Johnson's status in the division, he is still a few fights away from being a true contender. That being said, it's hard to not compare him to fellow heavyweight Shane Carwin.

Carwin took the heavyweight division by storm in 2008, earning four straight first-round finishes en route to a title shot against then heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

Stylistically, Johnson and Carwin are very similar.

If either one gets there hands on you, you're in trouble. They are both physically imposing and weigh in at a very trim 255 pounds for most fights. Each of them possesses an 80" reach that allows them to land bombs from distance or generate knockout strikes from the clinch.

They even have a similar taste in style—both men rock the bald-with-a-goatee look.

Carwin has struggled of late, after losing to Lesnar by arm triangle choke he has had issues with back issues and lost to current heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. Despite the recent struggles, Carwin is considered one of the best heavyweights in the world.

Johnson has the potential to be every bit as good as Carwin and contend in the heavyweight division. As long as he continues to knock out every opponent thrown his way he should be on everyone's radar.