Renato Babalú :: TATAME

In more than 10 years of career, Renato “Babalu” Sobral faced some of the biggest names of all the weights. Ex Strikeforce’s champion, the black belt talked to TATAME and remembered his career, analyzed the MMA growing, talked about his wish of revenge against Gegard Mousasi, who wook his belt on the American event, the training with Wanderlei Silva and Fabrício Werdum, life in California and a lot more. Check below the exclusive chat.

How’s life in America?

Life is good here, I miss my family a lot, I have an eight months daughter, the gym is going well... I have a lot of students and we’re joined here, I’m happy to be a part of this.

What do you miss most in Brazil?

I miss my friends and family, the sea a little warmer (laugh), because the water here in California is too cold. I think it’s only that, because I have everything I had here in Rio de Janeiro, rice, beans... California looks like Rio de Janeiro a lot.

How’s your career after the fight against Mousasi? When will you fight again?

I hope to fight again soon, I’m 99%, I’m training and waiting. I had a muscular disruption on the left leg and I stood still for a while, but I’m back now and I’m training with Werdum, Rafael (Cordeiro), Wanderlei (Silva). We’re training hard. I don’t know when I’ll be back. Strikeforce call us overtime, I still don’t know.

How do you see your category now?

It’s tough, getting each time better. I’m looking for big fights. I’m on a moment on my career to make important fights, not just to add. Being for the title or not, I want to fight with big names. I talked to the guys of the event to don’t be focused only on the light heavyweight division, but, of course, my biggest aim is the fight against (Gegard) Mousasi, but I’m giving a lot of fight options. I think it’s nice to fight in a lot of categories, and just gave me three months...

Maybe a fight with Fedor...

It would be satisfying to me, but at the moment I’m focused with Werdum so he can get this belt.

And how is his preparation to the fight Fedor?

It’s not 100% yet, but we’re training hard as always. He’s a great guy, great train partner and I think he will take this belt from Fedor.

Do you think that Jiu-Jitsu is a good way to beat Fedor?

Jiu-Jitsu s always a powerful way.

How do you see your future on MMA? Did you think on retirement?

I’ve been thinking a lot on that for a while, but each day we learn something... On a train with Wanderlei and I decided to fight until I’m 40, because we fight hard to be here and now that we are on the middle of the cake we can’t give up. While I’m healthy I want to keep on the good part.

What do you consider as the middle of the cake nowadays MMA?

Money. We fought a lot, we took it back... The old times guys, Wanderlei, Hugo, they know what’s to fight on small towns, don’t be payed or to fight three times on one night and receive almost nothing... They went out broken and the money don’t pay even the hospital. Now I can keep my family and invest. It’s even harder now because there’s more people, but when you get there it’s easier because you get paid.

On which moment of your career did learn more as a man and as a fighter?

Now you surprised me, there are many of them. I’ve trained a lot for a fight and thought “that’s enough, I don’t want to fight this shit anymore” and then I tough everything all over again and could overcome this... every fighter gets upset when he loses, but the champion is the one who overcomes the bad phase. We have to be open minds to learn more. Who think that knows everything won’t go anywhere, because he thinks he has nothing to learn anymore.

What did those trains with Werdum, Rafael and Wanderlei taught you?

They are a huge school. I admire them, they have a very good energy, it helps a lot. They want to share, this trade is very important.

When you started did you imagined you’d go so far?

I didn’t think the sport would go so far. I fought in places that Mike Tyson fought, where Rolling Stones played, very cool. I have never imagined I’d fought in places where starts were.

And what have marked you most on this way?

It’s a lot of things, man, but what stays are friendships and what I’ve learned on the travels, the culture, this is priceless. I’m a lucky man to train with people that I train with and to be a part of it. I’ll say that I’m a part of the history of the sport.

How do you think the sport is going to be in ten years?

Is going the right way. There are some right and some wrong things, as everything on life. Now was just the start, from now on we’ll go each time better.

Did you keep any sorrows from the time on UFC, the way you left the event? Do you still dream about going back there?

None, I only have to thank, it was very good. I don’t have this dream, fighter lives from the next fight, so I can’t dream farther, or I’ll get distracted. My gold is always the next fight.

How do you see the 205 pounds division today?

This category is tough, the strongest, and equilibrated.

Who do you consider as the top three?

Lyoto, Shogun and Mousasi.

What did you think about the first fight between Shogun and Lyoto and how do you think this revenge is going to be?

The fight was tough, Shogun was clever and Lyoto too, they are great. It’s hard to have a guess on a fight like this.

How do you think Mousasi would go on UFC? Do you think he’d get along against Lyoto and Shogun?

I don’t know, man, Mousasi is a good fighter, I can’t say anything. Both are great too, it’s hard to say.

Who do you consider the number one pound for pound?

Anderson is the man. Who say that don’t like to watch him fighting is lying. He has the most beautiful fight on MMA.

Do you think that Vitor Belfort will be dangerous to Anderson’s belt?

For sure. No guesses, it’s complicated.

How do you like to be remembered on ten years?

As a fighter who fought well, at least guys from my time have professional respect form e. I’d like to be remembered for my determination.

And you kids, will they follow the father’s career?

My daughter is here now, they are two girls, so it’s harder, but I want them on sports.