New Babalu Interview

[lovebuzzkurt]

CAGEPOTATO.COM: First of all, how likely is it that we’ll see you face Tito Ortiz in Affliction?
RENATO SOBRAL: I don’t know when that fight will happen. It’s not up to me — if it was, I would have beaten his ass yesterday.

You’ve said that facing Tito would be your “dream fight.” Why is that, exactly?
First of all because he said that I am a “C-class fighter,” then he went on to say that I am a third-world country fighter. It would be a pleasure for me to kick his ass.

What do you think of him as a person?
Well…he is a good fighter. But it would be my pleasure to send him to hell.

If you two fought, how do you think the fight would end?
Whatever way in which the ending is me sending him to hell.

The salaries for some of the fighters at the first Afflicton show were incredibly high — do you feel like you were underpaid compared to guys like Ben Rothwell, Matt Lindland, or some of the other headliners?
I don’t really comment on money. Some make more money; others who are just starting make less. I have nothing to complain about.

How has Affliction treated you, compared to some of the other promotions you’ve worked for?
I’ve been treated very well by everyone, and I have nothing to complain about. I am a professional. Fighting is a business — the show doesn’t have to be the fighter’s father and mother.

Your next fight will be against Bobby Southworth for the Strikeforce light-heavyweight title. Do you see this as a tough fight for you?
A fight is always difficult, everyone is dangerous, and every minute of every round is hard. I am training for this fight like I train for every fight. I fight for the belt, for myself, and for Brazil.

What’s your training like these days?
I train three times a day. I wrestle at Santa Ana College in California, I practice jiu-jitsu at Gracie Barra. I also do some cardio, boxing, lifting weights, and swimming. I’ve been training really hard because I have a fight coming up. Right after a fight I take a week off and then two weeks only lifting weights. It is all planned accordingly.

Of your seven career losses, which one would you most like to avenge?
There’s a couple. Jason Lambert is one of them. There are fights that I think, “Damn I could have won this one if I had done one thing differently.” There’s also Valentijn Overeem — a fight like that one I say, “Fuck, did I really lose? I messed up, I could have won.” But what can I do? Now I have to train harder so that it doesn’t happen again.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not training?
I play with my daughter, I surf, and now I do some bike riding too.

How did you get the nickname “Babalu”?
The nickname was given to me by a friend when I was 11 years old. It is the name of a chewing gum. I used to wear red shirts which resembled the gum’s wrapper. Your nickname is not something you can change — the more you dislike it, the more people will call you that to make fun of you. Here in the U.S. people have nicknames like “the killer” or “the assassin,” but it’s different in Brazil. Their nicknames are things like “big head” and “owl’s face.” You don’t get to pick your own. This nickname was given to me, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

Thanks so much for your time, Renato. Would you like to give a shout-out to anyone before we sign off?
I want to thank Hitman, Metal Mulisha, and Rockstar. Also my family and my manager Richard Willner.

» Exclusive Interview: Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral

The fact he wants to send tito to "hell" pumps me up for their potential fight.

[KnowledgeKnown]

I've always like Babalu. The chewing gum story is hilarious.

[Dan0]

I didn't know his name was chewing gum.

[ChrisAM]

"What do you think of him as a person?
Well…he is a good fighter. But it would be my pleasure to send him to hell.

If you two fought, how do you think the fight would end?
Whatever way in which the ending is me sending him to hell."

Gotta love Babalu, hope the fight does go down.

[HammerFist]

Oh i cant get over the "If you two fought, how do you think the fight would end?
Whatever way in which the ending is me sending him to hell." comment.
What a seriously funny man Babalu is. I think he would have a very good chance of beating Tito, would probably be a decision though.

[Severn]

Here in the U.S. people have nicknames like “the killer” or “the assassin,” but it’s different in Brazil. Their nicknames are things like “big head” and “owl’s face.” You don’t get to pick your own. This nickname was given to me, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

I'd love to find out what they call Wandy in Brazil. He'd have one hell of a nickname.

[Bigshanks666]

Babalu is the man. Id love to watch him fuck Tito up.

Hes going to make Southworth look like a chump.

Babalu via whatever he wants.

[jhell]

UFC really fucked up by letting Babalu go. He's always entertaining and a very talented fighter.

[rbenson98]

He's got a fan in me i like the way he comes across in his interview and the way he dissmissed the talk of money. With all these fighter bitching about not getting there share its good to hear a guy who just says "some make more some make less i have nothing to complain about"

I hope he gets to fight tito i'm def getting the next affliction card on ppv
War Bobalu

[POINDEXTER]

It would be great to see him destroy both Southworth and Ortiz.