After numerous attempts, I finally got to speak with Strikeforce LHW champ Babalu Sobral, one of my Top 5 all-time favorites, for a Full Contact Fighter article about his August 15 title fight against Gegard Mousasi.
Check out the part at the every end (bolded).
Babalu Still Ready for Mousasi, This Time for the Belt
by Matt Kaplan
Babalu/Mousasi, take two!
To the delight of MMA fans around the world, the Renato “Babalu” Sobral vs. Gegard Mousasi fight has resurrected from the ashes of the Affliction demise and was given new life by Strikeforce, which added the fight to its August 15 “Carano vs. Cyborg” card. FCF caught up with the inimitable Strikeforce light heavyweight champion to discuss, among other things, the fight against Mousasi that almost never happened.
“When the (Affliction) fight was cancelled, it was like a death in the family,” Babalu (35-8) explained. “We didn’t know what to do, we didn’t know where we were going. You don’t know anything one day, and then it changed.”
“I was at the top of my training (for Affliciton). It’s like a piece of meat; if you put it on the grill too much, it’s gonna burn; if you cook it not enough, it’s too rare. So we had to put the meat on the side of the grill and get the timing right.”
The cancellation of the Affliction “Trilogy” card - and the subsequent demise of Affliction as an MMA promotion – was not only a professional disappointment for Babalu, but at the center of the fallout was veteran heavyweight Josh Barnett, a friend of Babalu’s.
“That’s a very new thing - for me - from the (California State Athletic) Commission, to test whenever. They never asked me to do any tests, so I don’t really have any thoughts about (Barnett’s test results). That’s what it is, though. (Barnett) has already paid; he’s out, he lost his chance. He’s a friend of mine. I’ll support him and be there for him. But he’s already had to pay.”
Babalu does not dwell on the sudden, disappointing termination of the Affliction event, preferring instead to devote all of his energy to taking on the dangerous Mousasi. And this time, a championship is on the line.
“I didn’t have my belt on the line (for the Affliction fight), but I had my head on the line. My head is the same. There’s actually extra motivation for both of us.”
The 23-year-old Mousasi (25-2-1) comes into this fight riding a twelve-fight winning streak, including a 2008 campaign that saw him win the Dream Middleweight Championship and the Dream Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament, defeating Denis Kang, Dong Sik Yoon, Melvin Manhoef, and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in the process. Also last year, he submitted Mark Hunt in the opening round of Dream’s Super-Hulk Grand Prix Tournament.
“He’s well-rounded,” said an unenthusiastic Babalu. “Everyone says that he is the new thing in MMA, the new hybrid. But I already am a hybrid. ”
It’s no secret that Babalu will be ready to fight on the ground, and to combat the Dutch-Armenian’s striking prowess, Babalu is fighting fire with fire by training with Rob Kaman, whom Babalu refers to affectionately as “the craziest Dutchman in the world.” He has also been training with former heavyweight boxer Justin Fortune. Consequently, Babalu’s striking, as evident in his recent fights with Mike Whitehead and Bobby Southworth, is markedly more efficient, technical, and effective than it had been in years past.
But even with an upgraded arsenal of strikes, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and national wrestling champion definitively and proudly offers his plan for victory: “By submission.”
Any submission in particular? “Whichever,” he laughed, “because I know almost all of them.”
Since battering and choking David Heath unconscious with an anaconda choke back at UFC 74 (and then being fined and released from the UFC for not relinquishing the choke upon referee’s command), Babalu has gone 4-0, most recently submitting judo expert Thierry Sokoudjou at Affliction II. He has enjoyed victory in 15 of his last 17 fights and, at just 33 years of age, appears to have plenty of fight left in him. Not necessarily, says Babalu.
“It’s hard right now to say. Let me finish (the four remaining fights on my Strikeforce contract) and see how I feel after. I don’t want to be fighting for a long time after that,” Babalu admitted.
He added with a laugh, “No more running, no more lifting weights, no more shit like this; just yoga, swimming, and jiu jitsu.”
Until Babalu hangs up his gloves for good, he has a champion to fight, a title to defend, and a crowd to thrill on August 15 in San Jose. And adding to the intensity surrounding this highly anticipated match-up is a particular comment by Mousasi that has not been sitting well with Babalu.
Mousasi said in an interview that Babalu is looking to submit Mousasi, whereas Mousasi is looking to hurt Babalu. The Gracie Barra Combat Team representative responded with a wry chuckle.
“‘I wanna knock Babalu out! I wanna hurt him every round!’” Babalu said, mocking Mousasi in a nasal falsetto. “Yeah, just like I want to do! He can ask David Heath about that.”
(photo from Babalu's MySpace page.)
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