Destiny of Warriors | 23 Jun 12 | |||||
Renato Sobral (Portuguese pronunciation: ; born 7 September 1975), also known as "Babalu", is a retired Brazilian Luta Livre submission grappler, mixed martial artist, and was the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. Sobral previously fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he posted a 6–4 record and has also competed for Bellator, RINGS, Jungle Fight, Cage Rage, Affliction, and ONE Championship. He is the Head Instructor of Babalu's Iron Gym Cerritos and has a Luta Livre black belt under Marco Ruas and also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr.
Sobral is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and began competing in wrestling from a young age of nine. Sobral later went on to be a South American Wrestling Champion in 1998, a three-time Brazilian National Wrestling Champion in 1998, 1999, and 2000, and was a Brazilian National Muay Thai Champion in 1992. Sobral joined the Gracie Barra Combat Team and trained in Ruas Vale Tudo, a martial arts system developed by Marco Ruas.
Sobral and his wife Natasha have two daughters, who were born in May 2009. He has both their names tattooed on him.
His nickname comes from a brand of bubblegum that he used to chew (Bubbaloo).
In October 2008 he opened his own gym, Gracie Barra Cerritos, in Cerritos, California. In 2010, his gym changed to Babalu's Iron Gym.
Sobral was awarded his Brazilian jiu-jitsu third degree black belt in August 2017 from Roberto “Gordo” Correa.
Appeared in the video Still I Rise by the American heavy metal band Shadows Fall.
In May 2019 Sobral revealed that he was suffering from symptoms consistent with early onset of CTE.
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