At the ripe age of 40, former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral is still considering a return to active MMA competition. After a comeback fight in Switzerland against now Bellator-bound Volkan Oezdemir fell through in February, the Brazilian now dreams of a spot in the big New Year’s Eve show in Japan.
“In America they say, if you want peace you gotta prepare for war. So I’ll be prepared for war with my peace time. If something happens, some opportunity ended up at the end of the year or any time, I can be ready like right away,” Babalu told GNP1.de. “A fight in Japan, that would be the perfect time for me. That would be my end of the circle of my career, because I started fighting in Japan, then I came to the US. I think that if I come back to Japan, that would be something that would be highlighting my career. Nothing better than finishing the career in Japan, it’s an awesome place to fight.”
Sobral also stressed that it won’t be the financial incentive that would entice him to come back, it’s “just a matter of a good challenge.” At this coming New Year’s Eve show in Japan, there’s is arguably no bigger challenge than the anointed GOAT, Fedor Emelianenko.
“I have a lot of respect for Fedor, but to go over there and fight him again, that would be a great chance for me,” said Babalu.
Both men fought over 14 years ago in the Japanese Rings organization, which Fedor won by unanimous decision. Fedor stayed in Japan for the most of his career and went on to become the Pride FC heavyweight champion, while Sobral moved to the UFC. He even fought Chuck Liddell for the UFC title, but lost and was later released from the promotion after he refused to let go of a choke against David Heath. He then won the 205-pound belt at Strikeforce, but lost it to Gegard Mousasi. One of his last big wins came against now-UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler in 2010. Sobral retired in 2013 after two losses in a row in Bellator.
Fedor is expected to make his comeback after a three-year absence against an opponent yet to be named. Editorial note: In fact, Fedor will face kickboxer Jaideep Singh, as was reported by MMA Fighting yesterday after the writing of this post.