Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral (36-10) has not had a fight since a title eliminator loss to Dan Henderson in December 2010.
Since that loss ‘Babalu’ has been shelved for a year waiting to find out where his next fight might happen. He’s been kept busy by helping fighters such as Igor Pokrajac, Wanderlei Silva, Fabricio Werdum and the rest of the team at Kings MMA in California prepare for their bouts.
Now comes news from ONE Fighting Championship’s Facebook page that the UFC veteran has signed with the Asian based promotion and is set to debut in March at the ONE FC-DREAM event in Singapore.
The co-branded ONE Fighting Championship 3/DREAM event is expected to take place on March 31, 2012 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.
Sobral started his professional mixed martial arts career back in 1997, winning twelve straight until a majority decision loss to Dan Henderson in the final of the King of Kings 1999 Final tournament event in Japan. ‘Babalu’ would join the UFC in 2002, going 1-2 in his three appearances and would then move onto the IFL for a short stint to win the IFL light heavyweight tournament final over Jeremy Horn.
The Brazilian would return to the UFC in April 2005, making six appearances losing a title shot against Chuck Liddell at UFC 62. He would then go on and fight under the Affliction banner and Strikeforce, winning the Strikeforce light heavyweight strap in 2008.
In his first title defense, he would get KO’d by Gegard Mousasi in the first round of the Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg event. He would go on to decision Robbie Lawler before losing to Henderson again in a No. 1 contender bout.
Over Sobral’s fourteen year plus career, he’s fought such names as Fedor Emelianenko, Chael Sonnen, Maruicio ‘Shogun’ Rua, as well as multiple fights versus Liddell and Henderson.