Renato Sobral Issues Statement
Renato “Babalu” Sobral was axed from the UFC earlier this week for his controversial victory over David Heath at UFC 74 last weekend. Yesterday the Nevada State Athletic Commission voted to continue to withhold Sobral’s $25,000 win bonus until a future hearing is held to determine the exact sanctions he will face. He is not expected to receive a suspension.
Today “Babalu” issued the following statement through Sherdog regarding the situation:
Since UFC 74, I have wanted to speak publicly about my fight with David Heath. I waited to do so, however, out of respect for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Zuffa, Inc. and Dana White. After all, it is their efforts that have legitimized Mixed Martial Arts in the sports world and I realize that my conduct has unintentionally hindered those efforts. For that, among other things, I am deeply sorry.
I have been fighting professionally since 1998. Prior to my fight with David Heath, my professional record was twenty-seven wins with seven losses. Fourteen of my victories came by way of submission. Not once was I ever accused of holding a choke or submission too long. If anything, there has always been and continues to be a great camaraderie between my opponents and I after the fight.
Being a professional mixed martial artist is more than a career to me. It is my livelihood and my way of life. Consequently, I am deeply sorry for any embarrassment that has been brought upon the sport, other mixed martial artists (especially David Heath), my Academy and most importantly, my family.
As if the embarrassment were not enough, my actions during the fight with David and my comments afterwards, have already resulted in severe financial loss to my family because as you know, in addition to my win bonus still being withheld, yesterday I was released from my contract with the UFC.
There has been much talk about things that may have been said to me by David Heath at the weigh-in. What David said to me at the weigh-in didn’t matter then and doesn’t matter now. What matters are my comments after the fight. And, regardless of what you may read by so called MMA experts on the internet, I never said that I purposefully choked-out David Heath. In short, my post-fight comments, while inappropriate, were not intended to be comments about the choke. Rather, they were intended to be comments about the aggressive performance that I put in.
I did not intentionally choke out David Heath. The first that I realized that David had tapped was when people told me that he did after the fight. When I finally had the chance to view the tape, I see that he did. When David tapped, I did not feel it. I wish I did for I would have let it go. Instead, I continued to hold it. Not because I was upset or wanted him to lose consciousness. I held it because I didn’t know he tapped and I was intent on winning the fight. Holding on to a choke a little long is not an uncommon mistake made in training, and never in my career have I witnessed or heard of an injury resulting from it.
When I had the choke, I was not looking the referee in the eyes as one commentator erroneously observed. Nor did I hear the referee issue any verbal command to release the hold. Instead, my head was down to strengthen the move and my eyes closed with focus. As a result, I did not feel the referee tap me the first time either. It was not until he put his hands on my right shoulder that I felt him trying to separate us. When I felt this, I immediately released the choke.
After this morning’s hearing I traveled to the UFC’s office to meet with Dana White. Contrary to recent reports in the media, this meeting was not to discuss my being released from the UFC. In fact, this meeting was arranged prior to my even being released from the contract. The purpose of the meeting was for me to personally apologize to Dana while at the same time thank him for all the opportunities that the UFC has given to my family and I. Unfortunately, I was unable to meet with Dana due to a calendaring error Nevertheless, thanks Dana and my apologies.
I am a professional fighter. This is what I do for a living. I do not hold a day job and then train at night to fight. I know nothing else but how to fight. This is how I support my family.
On behalf of my family and friends, I appreciate the support that you have given me over the years, not to mention in the recent week, and I am hopeful that I will have the opportunity to fight again in the State of Nevada. Thank you.
RENATO “BABALU” SOBRAL
Tags: Renato Sobral
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http://spikedhumor.com/articles/123053/Sobral_vs_Heath.html
you can hear someone yelling obscenities after the fight, during the replays. Rogan is the first one to state that "He was looking Mazagatti right in the eyes". The crowd caught on FAST, though…and they were there. I still think he screwed up, and broke the bargain you make with your opponents. But he's getting his punishment, and while he still denies doing anything, he cops to deserving to be punished (confusing). So, do your time, Babalu. There's other orgs to work for, I'm sure ShoXC will love to have you. The bad thing for him is the LHW division is so stacked right now. Still, he should have let go.Â
I don't know, he sounds(in script) sincere. I hope he whinds up with a contact down the road.
He is so full of SH*T. Claiming that he was unaware that there was a tap or that the ref was waving him off. He intentionally held the choke for the purposes of "teaching him a lesson" as he stated. I am glad it happened and will be an example to the rest for inapproriate behavior.
T.
I think I fall into the majority that at least believes Babalu to an extent. I really feel a tap out can be missed especially considering the adrenaline flowing during the fight. Whether he felt Mazzigatti's initial attempt for release I don't know but Babalu has never done anything like this in the past given the chance and even though it was inappropriate he was respectful during the process and should have been fined and possible receive a minor suspension but I think the release of him from his contract is a bit harsh.
i have trained with babalu in new hampshire..hes a wonderfull guy and one of my favorite fighters! i think what he did was wrong! but we all make mistakes in life..certainly anyone on steroids should be fired for life because they cheated the whole way through! thats the b**** way to win a fight…atleast babalu didnt stoop that low..but i hope that dana white will give babalu another chance! and yes fire shawn sherk for life. id love to see babalu against tito ortiz…could be one of the best fights in ufc history…my moneys on babalu!
I agree with you Kris. Also, it seems that Babalu has been deeply humbled and I hope to see him back in the UFC. Not only is he learning from this mistake, but other MMA fighters have learned to not pull this kind of stunt.
i still haven't been able to find out for sure, but i thought that was his last fight on his current contract anyways…Â
That is what I heard as well garth but I think there must have been either a provision for an extension or fights remaining for Dana White to say they actually cut him from his contract as opposed to simply not resigning him.
i'm kinda thinking that dana maybe used some creative interpretation in stating he'd been "cut" instead of simply saying "we're not re-signing him".Â
I think that could very well be the case as White has minced words in the past and reports were generally that he was on his way out anyways (otherwise why not put him on the main card). I think it was to give the impression that the UFC actually took action for what he did. Saying the basically did nothing isn't very effective in helping the UFC in the eyes of their critics.
spot on
Yeah, I would like to see Babaloser back in the UFC, only to get his ass kicked like Jason Lambert did at UFC 68.
Good for White to step up and make a point were all these other professional sports are letting piece of s#$* athletes come back time after time. He should boot Sherk to, lead by example for all other professional sports to follow. Show that MMA has a 'no tolerance' for cheap stuff, steriods, or anyother things that bring negative publicity to the sport.
A part of me whats to say he is truley sorry…but the other side says hell no. I hope to see him in the future but he needs to do his time.
Babalu is too talented and has too much of a fan base to not be in the UFC. He will be back one day. Hopefully he gets a call from the UFC one day and maybe he might headline a Ultimate Fight Night Live.
I saw the fight. As much as I like Joe Rogan, it sounded that he started freaking out on the microphone way to soon. I have seen chokes held for much longer. This seems like a case of over reacting by an announcer and then everyone just agreeing with him. Before seeing the fight I pictured a WWE type of scene but upon seeing it I found that it was much ado about nothing.
Babalu got screwed here.
I saw the fight as well. Why, if it was just Joe Rogan freaking out and everyone agreeing with him, were the spectators sitting right there booing from the minute it happened? Were they…predicting what Rogan would say and pre-booing in agreeement with his hysterical conclusion?Â
I'm Italian and I'm a MMA fan, not just a Babalu fan.
But I support Renato even if he made a big big mistake. I've seen a half of his fights and at the end of each i've seen a friendly and correct behavior. I think he had a bad night (and a bad summer too, with the arrest and so on…) but now he feels very sorry about that. Everyone can make mistakes, now it's Dana White turn…if he dont want to go wrong he has to give Babalu another chance…he's still one of the best light heavyweight in the world. I want him back in the UFC!!!!!
I'd say that Babalu is talented, but not one of the best anymore. Even if he was the best, the rules still apply. Being sorry doesn't enter into it, and a statement written by his agent doesn't mean a damn thing. As far as the UFC cares, if they can get away with suspending him for a month and re-sign the guy they will. they're in it for the money. So's Babalu. The only reason he's made his "apologetic" statements is because he got a look at his bank account. The apologists are really starting to get to me. If Randy Couture did something like that I'd be hollering for him to be suspended and fined. Thats the game. Those are the rules. Stop trying to justify the unjustifiable.Â
Of course Babalu is going to be apologetic, there is money at stake and future purses. At the end of the day he did the crime and now must do the time………we all make mistakes yes I agree, but what he did was disgraceful and even though he is the Bad Boy of the UFC and we all like to see such an unpredictable fighter rules are there for a reason for the safety of all of the fighters. I think he will get the nod from Dana to return at a future date as he is a crowd puller and is more Dollars in Dana's Bank account. Having said all of the above I dont think he is the fighter he used to be and against another top fighter like Chuck or Rampage he would lose.
[...] was on purpose. And boy, doesn’t that just sink the rest of the good work in his statement. Let’s take a look at where this letter self-destructs: I did not intentionally choke out David Heath. The first that I realized that David had tapped was [...]
I didn't know about Babalu's arrest. He obviously is on a downward slope in his life. We have all been there. He will be punished, and hopefully grows as a fighter and human being. In a couple of years if he doesn't let his life destroy him, we will see a greater Babalu. Good luck to him and good on the UFC for proper punishment. NOW, DOWN WITH SHERK!
First of all Babalu is a father and husband. He’s a good guy and a hell of a fighter. Babalu and that lightweight kid Uriah(?) from Sacramento, Ca. are my two favorites fighters. I have one wish for Babalu and that is he make a ton of money fighting and set up his family for life. Keep surfing Babalu! Pura Vida – Jimmy
There has been some time since this event, but really was there ever any place in the UFC for babalu. He was always on the second tier in this organization. Getting your ass kicked by Chuck Liddell will only get you a couple of fights. Sure he has some success in other organizations filled with former UFC prospects and fighters past their prime but he would stand no chance in the UFC today and he should not be allowed to profit from his stupidity.
He felt the tap tightened his grip looked at the ref for a couple of seconds felt him go limp and then let it go. So no one was hurt, but that would be a dangerous thing to let happen. It is a dangerous enough sport without guys like this in it and I feel that way a year plus after the fight.