Renato 'Babalu' Sobral vs Gegard Mousasi fight moved to Strikeforce on Aug. 15
by Jesse Holland on Jul 27, 2009 4:52 PM EDT
84 comments
After a week of bad news, we finally have some positive information to pass along.
Strikeforce today announced that it has salvaged the dynamite light heavyweight showdown between Renato Sobral and Gegard Mousasi, which appeared to be scrapped when Affliction MMA closed its doors just one week prior to "Trilogy" on Aug. 1, 2009.
It gets better: Sobral, the Strikeforce 205-pound champion, will put his belt on the line when the two fighters collide at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Aug 15. It will be a featured bout on the televised main card, which will air on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET.
Sobral was forced to withdraw from his first-ever light heavyweight title defense against former Elite XC superstar, Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante, at the Strikeforce: ‘Lawler vs. Shields’ event slated for the the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., on June 6, due to the birth of his child in late May.
Babalu has won four straight fights since departing from the UFC in late 2007, including a decision win over Mike Whitehead at Affliction: "Banned," a submission win over Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Affliction: "Day of Reckoning" and a first round technical knockout win over Bobby Southworth at Strikeforce: "Destruction" to win the promotion’s 205-pound strap.
He will need every ounce of that experience (and his jiu-jitsu chops) to stymie Mousasi.
For Mousasi, who surrendered his DREAM middleweight title to focus on competing at a higher weight class, it is another opportunity to capture a major belt early in his bright career.
Here’s what he had to say about fighting Babalu under the Strikeforce banner:
"I am very happy that Strikeforce has resurrected this fight and that I will have the opportunity to become Strikeforce world champion…. Strikeforce is one of the world’s top promotions and I am proud to be a part of their roster of world-class fighters."
"The Young Vagabond" (25-2-1) is fresh off a first round submission win over Mark Hunt at Dream 9 on May 26. Mousasi is riding a 12-fight winning streak with victories over Denis Kang, Melvin Manhoef and Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza. 23 of his 25 wins have been either submission or (T)KO stoppages.
Strikeforce: "Carano vs. Cyborg" will feature a 145-pound title fight between female fighting sensation Gina "Conviction" Carano and her nemesis Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, as well as a lightweight title unification bout between reigning champ Josh "The Punk" Thomson and interim champ Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez.
For all the latest on this still-developing fight card click here.
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Mac, how can we see this live? Is it on in KW?
by jay on Jul 27, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hmmmm….it’ll be on HDNet but not live, and usually a couple days later…maybe sportsnet. I’ll check it out tonight. You Rogers, Bell, or Direct?
by McArthur on Jul 27, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I got Directtv.. anyone know if I have to purchase HDNET or am I just dumb and can’t find it?
by Sp00ner1234 on Jul 27, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it is channel 306, but obviously you have to have the right HD package. Did you know that Direct TV also shows all the weigh ins on channel 101?
by BNF on Jul 27, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You have to purchase the HD package to get HDNet, but is it not on Showtime?
by James S on Jul 27, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There’s no mention on where to watch this event anywhere? These guys gotta get there shit together, how are they going to make money if nobody can see their product?
by jay on Jul 27, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bad News"
Josh THomson isnt fully healed. HIs August 15th title fight with El Nino might be in jeopardy!
by Jizz dollar on Jul 27, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
for christ sake go on the internet and stream the event live…
by RoBstaH on Jul 27, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe I’m missing the question but the Strikeforce event is on Showtime. Is that the event y’all are looking for.
by DDT on Jul 27, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What good does that do you now? the fights not today
by Cogito Ergo Sum on Jul 28, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Excellent!! Will you have to buy your wife for this too Kevin?
by DSmith on Jul 27, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
she wants a divorce over101. She’s going to vegas, buying ANOTHER Louis bag and won’t let me forget I didn’t even consider inviting her to 101! We are supposed to go away for our anniversary this weekend (my son is in MA) but may have to come back for this event!
by kevin on Jul 27, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, that’s pretty tough. A divorce over a UFC event…
by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Jul 27, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
kevin, just buy her a shirt or something and tell her you were thinking about her when you bought it, probelm solved
by child on Jul 27, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
is the lesner video auto playing for everyone, it’s annoying!
by kevin on Jul 27, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I got a response in moderation P-diddy.
I may not go because my son will be away and my wife and I may fly to Reno (yes fly the 30 min). But we may drive to hearst castle, if we do, we’ll go to strikeforce!
by kevin on Jul 27, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, it is playing
by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jul 27, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I went to the Hearst Castle when I was like 12. I thought it sucked, probably because I was a kid.
by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jul 27, 2009 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol…ya, every time I come in here today I hear the douchebag’s voice…grrrrrrrrrrrr.
Well, off to my samba lessons……..
by introvert on Jul 27, 2009 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how could you not go if you live close? that is a great card.
by roy on Jul 27, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because it cost $15 for a big beer and a plate of nachos cost as much as a fu*king steak. Other than that it is great. ;-)
by BNF on Jul 27, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
FUCK YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gegard’s USA coming out party is still on!!!
by ViolentMike on Jul 27, 2009 4:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Awesome. Takes a lot of the sting out of Overeem not defending. Maybe Strikeforce will be the big winners out of the Affliction collapse.
by Jeremyjackson on Jul 27, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
First good news in a while, this fight has actually got more interesting now that it is for a title. SF once again comes through for MMA fans after a hopelessly organised promotion goes bust. I’m liking the promotion more and more everyday, Atencio and M-1 could learn a thing or two from them in how to make the best out of a bad situation instead of bailing when things get tough and lying about laws to justify it.
Though the cage may hinder Mousasi a little I still have faith that he can beat Babalu, never bought into his hype and Gegard seems to be the real deal. Mousasi is too good an all rounder for Babalu and this will be the fight that makes him a star in the US.
by David W-S on Jul 27, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mouassi in a cage for the first time??? SWEEEEET!!! Title Fight!!
by McArthur on Jul 27, 2009 4:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Probably is his first time. Although they have both been training for the ring. But obviously Babalu has more expierence in the cage.
Is Strikeforces’ cage smaller than the Octagon?
I really don’t like that there are no elbows allowed in Strikeforce. Is that just like their little way to seperate themselves or what?
by BNF on Jul 27, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I think it is a six-sided cage…
by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Jul 27, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mousasi has fought in a cage before. Some HFC fights in Canada maybe? I dunno, but he beat Cyborg Santos in a cage, so I dont think it will be a factor in the outcome.
No elbows = gay, especially since Mousasi was looking forward to smashing his elbows in Babz’ face. Oh well. Hey Gegard, I hear the UFC lets you use elbows…..
by Synyster on Jul 27, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great News!!!!!!
We got a second place and might be moving in that day. Hopefully the cable will be set up.
by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jul 27, 2009 4:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
my wife was looking at house prices in your area… sick! She can transfer now with same pay (and no state tax) I can’t… she wants too, I don’t want to start over!
by kevin on Jul 27, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We close on it next moth (that is if everything goes as planned). A mile from the beach, east of Federal between Commercial and Atlantic.
We are renting out the smaller place we have now. I can’t wait to get On Demand now.
by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jul 27, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and she’s right, you’re talking your problems here? you have troubles buddy…
im psychologist so if you want some help just add me erasmolf@hotmail.com
good luck kevin
by Nayieli on Jul 27, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol, she’s looking for prices for us, and she’s just pissed because she’s a huge BJ fan! I’ll save the email though! If she can deal with an alcoholic for 5 or 6 years and me cheating, I think she can handle missing 101! if not…bye!
by kevin on Jul 27, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hahahaha give him the help he needs
by theCloser on Jul 27, 2009 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Delighted. I was looking forward to this almost as much as Fedor vs Barnett. Hopefully Strikeforce can pick up a couple more fights (Vitor vs Santiago and Gomi’s fight for example) and add them to the card.
by Neil on Jul 27, 2009 4:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is this “Lights Out Radio’s” Neil?
by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jul 27, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t get too excited but I read a rumour today (on yardbarker) that UFC 103 co-headliners will be….
VITOR v Hendo
Rich v Tito
by McArthur on Jul 27, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I heard the Franklin vs. Tito possibility but not Hendo vs. Belfort, that would be sweet though!!
by Dragon on Jul 27, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vitor vs hendo seems dumb, first off hendo already beat him, so he should be the favorite. If vitor wins, he gets his shot at silva but hendo will have gotten the horn pretty badly, and if hendo wins vitor will lose what ever hype he has gained at mw. just seems bad no matter what.
but with all these big names 103 does look that much better.
by Blazy J on Jul 27, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well both fights make 100% more sense than a rematch so soon between Rich and Hendo ever did.
by BNF on Jul 27, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Those fights would make a lot more sense than Hendo-Rich II and would actually make 103 a pretty good card, all it was lacking was a solid main event and now it has two. Suddenly the UFC might actually be competetive with Mayweather-Marquez.
by David W-S on Jul 27, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What a rumor starter!!!
Would be cool if it was true.
by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jul 27, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fu*king awesome. :-P
I heard the Tito one but not the Vitor one. That card went from shi*ty to sweet rather quickly.
by BNF on Jul 27, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
just checked…still up on yardbarker…check it out
by McArthur on Jul 27, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think i’d rather see Rich vs Vitor at a catchweight of 195 and Hendo vs Tito at 205.Hendo/Vitor 1 was a boring fight.
by JT on Jul 27, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
vitor vs bisping ufc 105
tito vs rich 103 main event
hendo vs chuck or mark coleman would be great fights to put on :]
vitor wont brutally knockout bisping with 1 punch so bisping cant say no and he’s a big name
by randy murders on Jul 27, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ask Matt Lindland if Vitor can “brutally KO you with 1 punch”.
by attakdog on Jul 28, 2009 5:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I saw that too. I was hoping to see mousasi in the ufc i think there are more fights for him there. Hard to see anything bad in this, but mousasi has the same managment as fedor and if the ufc didn’t sign him I think that means less of a chance of signing fedor.
by Drew on Jul 27, 2009 5:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mousasi still has obligations to Dream and their Super Freak tourney. It is still possible he goes to the UFC after that.
by Jeremyjackson on Jul 27, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
@ mcarthur, why would the rumored ufc 103 bout make me not excited for this title fight?
this fight just brought back strikeforce’s card as badass and i’m pumped for the next 3 ufc events
by heathergilmoreloveskuder on Jul 27, 2009 5:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
wtf i commented and it didnt show up. shitty mmamania bullshit :(
by heathergilmoreloveskuder on Jul 27, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s called moderation… Welcome to MMAMANIA.
by BNF on Jul 27, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s called moderation… Welcome to MMAMANIA.
by BNF on Jul 27, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
k now it showed up, shitty computer lad toshiba bullshit
by heathergilmoreloveskuder on Jul 27, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Are you in Japan? Hehehe! Mac is the way to go!
by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Jul 27, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey, i work for toshiba, their shit is the bomb
by child on Jul 27, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
FUCK YEAH BABY Niiiice this was the best fight next to Fedor Barnett! God i love Strikeforce!
by Khaos_Warrior on Jul 27, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice….
Thank you Strikeforce
Hard to pick a winner in this one….going with Babalu.
by introvert on Jul 27, 2009 5:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Strikeforce is the only other big mma org in the USA now. Expect everyone who doesn’t want to fight in the UFC (anyone not wanting an exclusive contract) to go there.
Affliction dying didn’t make the UFC the undisputed first (UFC already was) but it made Strikeforce the undisputed second.
by Bill Maher on Jul 27, 2009 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How about the winner gets a ufc contract, and gets to beat the hell outta tito in there first fight.
by Genetically superior on Jul 27, 2009 6:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like them both but I think mousasi is better then every part of
the fight game then Babalu but U cud never count him out! Henderson vs. tito would be gud since hendog already beat Vitor
by d*locc on Jul 27, 2009 6:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Great point. Ufc was never in any debate of being #1 or affliction rivalling them in anyway. But w/affliction it probs went:
Ufc 90%
Strikeforce 6%
Affliction 4%
Now it perhaps goes:
Ufc 88%
Strikeforce 12%
*north America wise
by Daniel worby on Jul 27, 2009 6:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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