Strikeforce: Dan Henderson vs Renato 'Babalu' Sobral to headline December 4 event

by James Kimball on Sep 22, 2010 3:26 PM EDT

A rematch 10 years in the making?

Dan Henderson vs. Renato "Babalu" Sobral has been made official for Strikeforce's upcoming show in St. Louis, Missouri on December 4. The match will serve as the event's headliner.

Strikeforce officials alerted MMAmania.com of the booking earlier today.

Former PRIDE and UFC star Dan Henderson was expected to do great things back in April when he made his much-ballyhooed debut under the Strikeforce banner against Jake Shields in the main event of "Saturday Night Fights" on CBS.

And while Shields was counting the days until his promotion release, he obviously was in no hurry to surrender his 185-pound title.

"Hendo" battered the Cesar Gracie disciple en route to a dominant first round in their middleweight championship fight. Shields recovered between rounds and did some dominating of his own, controlling Henderson with a relentless wrestling attack and suffocating top game.

Following his unanimous decision defeat, "Dangerous Dan," who just turned 40, commented on his difficulty in making the 185-pound weight limit.

Now he'll get the chance to prove he still has some gas left in the tank, just at 205.

Henderson narrowly beat the Brazilian under the RINGS banner way back in February 2000. And "Babalu" wants a chance to prove that ten years later, he is the better fighter.

Sobral wasted little time in calling Henderson out following his unanimous decision win over "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler back on June 16 in Los Angeles. It was his first win under the Strikeforce banner since coughing up the light heavyweight title to Gegard Mousasi last August.

"I won't never punch and try to hurt my friends, but I would like to ask for a fight, and all the respect that I have, in the beginning of my career I fought Dan Henderson in Japan and lost to him. I don't want to disrespect, but I would like to fight him. It's going to be 11 years since I fought him. It's a long time, and please, it would be an honor to fight him again, to have the chance to fight Dan Henderson."

"Babalu" got his wish, now only time will tell if he'll regret it.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more fight announcements for Strikeforce's December 4 event as they break.

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Babalu likes to walk into big power and hendo

might have just grown old overnight? I’ll take babalu for the win maybe for now.

Big Nog for Life
Inventor/supporter of "Gleison Tibau to Featherweight" movement.

by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Sep 22, 2010 3:29 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

This is a tough one for me

Neither fighter is relevant imo, but I do agree about Babalu. I see him walking straight in to Bisping land this time around

enzo-enormous

by enzo-enormous on Sep 22, 2010 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

They are relevant to

Strikeforce and what does that tell ya?

by Edgecrusher71 on Sep 22, 2010 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Babalu takes it if he has enough patience to just wear Hendo down so..

Hendo by KO RD2

by cough on Sep 22, 2010 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

^^this^^

Babalu I think has the advantage on the mat I don’t know if he’ll go there but at least it’s in his back pocket. Hendo by KO sounds like the smart pick. It’s gonna be a good fight.

Drink to remember, drink to forget.

by doonerthesooner on Sep 22, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

babalu should walk out to baba oriley

On second thought,maybe not…good tune, but not blood pumpin,exactly…then again, hughes walkout tune isn’t what you’d expect.

Activia; now with bullshitifus ridicularus

by salamagogo on Sep 22, 2010 3:38 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I don't know what Baba Oriley is but Hank Jr. is the shit.

Drink to remember, drink to forget.

by doonerthesooner on Sep 22, 2010 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

youve heard it b4

Its by the who with the chorus “its only teenage wasteland”…some people think its titled teenage wasteland

Activia; now with bullshitifus ridicularus

by salamagogo on Sep 23, 2010 12:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Jesus, lots of news today.

Good fight. Gotta take Babalu via some kinda choke.

To be the best you gotta be one crazy son of a bitch…and that’s the truth - BJ Penn

by BNF on Sep 22, 2010 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

Only Blackhouse subbs Hendo.

Drink to remember, drink to forget.

by doonerthesooner on Sep 22, 2010 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

At 205 ill take Hendo via KO at 185 i wouldve taken Sobral

If you dont like drugs then dont do them.....give them to me!

by Khaos_Warrior on Sep 22, 2010 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

Babalu for the win

He looked pretty good against lawler and i thought he was gonna get ko’d in that fight..
Hendo will come out strong then babs will wear him down and take the decision, possibly sub him late in the 2nd or 3rd.

OBAMA Won't Nuke Canada...... That's Why Im Voting Tea Party!!!

"The Red Eye Jedi Holds a 7th Degree Black Belt In BongHitsu"

by Red Eye Jedi on Sep 22, 2010 5:54 PM EDT reply actions

Hendo

Hendo will beat Babalu like Ricky Ricardo beating a drum. I think he should walk out to Ricky’s song Babalu from I Love Lucy.

Now to answer the question on who I think the best wrestler/grappler Fedor has faced is CC in my mind.

by Puck Head on Sep 16, 2010 10:27 AM PDT

Another gem from Puck Head

by StrikerDave on Sep 22, 2010 7:13 PM EDT reply actions

With hendo cardio is always the big question. With his chin,power, and wrestling base, he is trouble for anyone

But he is getting old and doesn’t maintain his level of fitness between fights like Randy. His age is showing and unless he dedicates himself to training , which I doubt he will, he runs the risk of losing lots of decisions.

Hendo is one of my all time faves so it hurts to say that.

by Conan the Barbarian on Sep 22, 2010 7:56 PM EDT reply actions