Renato "Babalu" Sobral | Former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, UFC Fighter & Martial Arts Hall of Famer

Jose Flores: 0:02

Hello everyone. Welcome to the working in a podcast where I get the privilege to talk to the legends and words of the martial arts world. Today I am being joined former light heavyweight champ Strikeforce champion, and former UFC fighter light heavyweight fighter, Renato babalu. Sir, how are you? I'm good. Thank you for having me today. Thank you for joining, sir. I appreciate it. Thank you for your time. Now, born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. How was young bobaloo like, well,

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 0:34

I born a 75. grew up in the 80s in a region here, I think is a very good school. You pretend to be a fighter. And growing at the thing, you know, it's different set up dad in two days. And we have to, we have to learn how to defend ourself. When a young age, especially I used to go pay my friends and no, I was six, seven years old already. I was to pay, go go downstairs and go play in the street, my friends. And by a very young age, my mom, my mom is a nurse, and she's working all day in different shifts, no difference hospitals. She was my dad, he was working on working on diving.

Jose Flores: 1:45

plaster.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 1:48

And so honestly didn't see my parents. So you have to take care of myself very well. And I there was a time of seeing my grandma. And we stray on we stay playing until the sun's going down. So I definitely that's my that was my my. My days. Going back to school, get lunch, go to the three in play all day. And go back home on the sun's come down knock on the hotel. This is the thing when the light was up on his lights is too light was up. We have to come back on. Because Yeah, if you don't go back home that is yes. You get it but you get a butt warmer.

Jose Flores: 2:43

And were you the only child or was

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 2:46

Yeah, I have a brother. I have my brother, my older brother. And a young brother. Okay, they're supposed to have a couple brothers. But this buddy born after grew up. But my dear one, they grew up they raised being raised with me there was my old brother and my younger brother. Three years apart. We are from each other. So I'm older and the old brother is live with me. And my young brother Yes, he lives with me and

Jose Flores: 3:17

hanging out a lot. Okay. And did the train martial

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 3:20

artists. Yeah, my. My older brother he passed when I was 30. And my young brother he's a he's a black belt in as a police officer

Jose Flores: 3:31

detective. Wow. Right here in the United States or in Brazil? Yes. Wow. All right. Yes. Rough job. Yeah. And Rio de Janeiro or That's correct. That is a tough job.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 3:43

It is.

Jose Flores: 3:44

The talk to him frequently. I

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 3:46

do. I did.

Jose Flores: 3:47

How was he doing is good.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 3:49

Well, yes. He got a nice scrape because even the shooting two days ago.

Jose Flores: 3:56

Wow. Wow. All right. Well, I mean, so you're five, six years old. And we were just talking you got into muy Thai. No, no. And

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 4:12

my mom No. Like I said before, I was a young kid. 666 years old. I was a have kid bad kid. And and so the only way I knew I wasn't good enough playing soccer. I didn't know how to do sports very well. In Brazil, you play soccer or you play soccer or you play soccer.

Jose Flores: 4:41

Sorry like Mexico? Yes.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 4:43

So we feed the owner. They don't ask you to play as much you know, and I'm not I wasn't very fast. So my mum decided okay, I think he is good for judo. kid you know is to put in a judo the night train. So train Jiu. Then so learn know about much Towards the seller and defend myself. And I thought was that I was the king of the street already one of the ages eight years old and and I try and I try to I get in a fight in the park on the playground. And then I have older kid. I tried to grab him and take him down using my Judo he stepped back and throw blow on my face. Yes, the punch of my face that I was very young, I was young Nikita run away home. See, I look to my mom and say mom, I don't want to do I don't want to do judo anymore. She doesn't work. I try to do to try to to take it down to the kid and especially the

Unknown: 5:45

guy and then the fiber bra.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 5:47

All this then well, by the age of 10 dream, we have a bank. Same group they group together and now there's me my brother and couple other friends. They used to to like I said, play like a like in the movies. I know what kind of movie that you guys have in here. They have a group of teenagers they know hanging out together. Finding trouble that's what he tried to do. And then we like a lot I like it a lot of Bruce Lee. Oh the kid got it. And they're like mom, I wanna I want to do what he does. I want to do kung fu that's why I thought a little coffee because he's punching and kicking. You know, I want to know how to punch a kick so I can punch the keys back

Unknown: 6:42

so

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 6:44

they have a moiety gym close to my house but I never saw I never heard it was my tie. I never really know what it is my tie was just came to my country on is 7070 something 7070 maybe was pretty so it's very new yes very new. We call it a shitbox like they have a team call me chip box we call it shoe box because these boxes differ and then I saw che i went to the gym then I look to see I come back home with a mom I want to start training boxing

Jose Flores: 7:24

okay I slept

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 7:25

boxy No No way. You're gonna you're gonna be retarded again okay. So I mean no matter what's in the face, you're going to become a retiree to have parties and whatever I say no, no one no come on I want to learn they can no no and then I didn't leave a went to the gym. I talked to the coach say Look, my mother's won't let me pay but I fall in love with the sport. Now I want to train and learn how to defend myself and I do whatever you want so if you let me go train or say you come here the last last time we have a class here tonight they have to finish the class in the gym so let's I haven't done so I went to the gym or saw our training last time sucked in the gym. And no guys you remember that in Brazil very similar in Mexico you will have so much rules that you have here and I say it's so so in my amount has had to go to the gym and finish it This doesn't have to do any stuff like this you know just have to talk to the coach he does let me go there's no waiver liability also anything so start training man. Yeah, by the ages 13 is my my coach you say look, you want to fight See, ya know, see no, no, I don't want to fight. But all my friends I was willing to fight the guys that I was admired. The guys that was my seniors on my gym example. The guys are better than me though. They hadn't been trained more time than the other guys that was looking up. I want to be like them. Then they they register the name and the fight or rest of money to fight. I didn't know was going to

Unknown: 9:19

and

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 9:21

the fighter was just weight class and professional amateur. Right? Because it might tie this with his experience and experience. I had an experience. I thought no guy. I just want one day before my fight to go check my way. That was like I said was chubby. I was fat. I thought I was going under

Jose Flores: 9:43

water. Yeah.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 9:45

And I checked the same scale, get my way. Didn't see my appointment. I went home. The next day I came so I was shortening a picture. 13 years old kid short, heavy, big God was short because it's 13 then the guy fight me was 18 and taller. Is 18 because he was heavy though, but didn't have any 13 years old on my weight class. There was a mismatch. Yeah, it was it needs to be college age Yes. Can't find a guy who's 18 years old 13 years old you know it's insane to now look to the guy and I look up to my opponent and that's fine because I was fat and then anybody saw the tear on a on outside the crowd. They look at my opponent is the bad guy strong in me like picking on anybody like

Unknown: 10:43

good luck. Good luck. Great.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 10:49

Yes, give me a little vibe. You know? Like is anyone know what? Okay, my coach look at me and say, Look, that's my first time that I had to deal my fears. I see my fear that you have to set like a fear like God's gonna kill me. I knew it. And my coach looked at me and say look he's just big guy, but you know, don't have to worry. Because it's the size of us matters the giraffe it was the king of the jungle. Stephanie case the guy came then you try to judge him take my hat off. I just threw a blow right perfect spin elbow was Brian his nails any blow his nose and then I knock him out. And spin he never knows. Right?

Jose Flores: 11:45

So how are you? How do you feel after that? He's doing right

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 11:48

after this. I feel amazing. Did I feel I feel like it on that moment right there. on there moment right there. Like there was something else now. When I see the crowd here my name chin I know my name started raining down and all this feeling in a sealed file. There was a there was a big rush or an adrenaline rush. And I think that there is if it's like a probably one of the person taking the heroin shot the first day. You know, like you You kind of Oh, this one I fell this day they hype and that day or the juk I was at gencon adrenaline. You know, I was joking forever tried to find it the same freelancing. That's what it is. Yeah, that's awesome. So

Jose Flores: 12:44

let's backtrack a little bit to your Montag coach Know Who was he?

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 12:47

I was at Phil I am my my tech my first my tech coach was Bill was name is Pedro. Pedro. Pedro Paolo from Brazil is a short guy. Sure guy in a train in the gym. That who is obviously is a former president of the Federation Brazil and he's the one that gave him a black belt. And this is what Yeah, he's a he's a he's a short guy and he's always believed in me I think there was a there's a there was the thing there then my coach gave to me is the self belief in myself you know, because when no one believes in me He is the one who believe in me and no one There's No One No One No One in the gym no one outside and thinking though. This is a bikini warlow is either gonna flop or not gonna fight. Well, you know? Just a little kid. No, he's like, you know, I believe in Him believing you believe in you. And he believed in me. And as after this, I stopped believing in myself.

Jose Flores: 14:00

That's awesome. So you think because everybody well, because he was short himself? He was believing in you because I'm pretty sure you say he was short but he was deadly. Well, no, because I

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 14:09

mean, I don't see that because all the show guys compete against short guys. Okay. Yeah. And he was just it wasn't because it's because he just saw something. He just he always he always taught me he always taught me that. You know, it doesn't matter what size of your opponent It doesn't matter what size the fight you know, doesn't matter. Doesn't matter sizes your point it doesn't matter what's happened to you. So what I taught me I think the most so in I've been in the situation before my life they have to fight guys. I'm almost 300 pounds. And then I have to no just look to me like is it 15

Jose Flores: 14:58

so alright, somebody Fast forward again. You're not this 18 year old out that your mom already knew it.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 15:06

That's correct. My mum, she did he knew there was Yeah, get it. Like I told you, I was going out in the street and state holiday but this is routine go all the way in my life, you know? And as I grew older she didn't know what it was it I come back home. I got my I go launch. I want to leave a cartoon. I do my homework. Go straight to the gym. from two to eight, two o'clock in the afternoon to eight o'clock at night. I wasn't a gym. That's great. Yeah. So my friends was in the gym in all my life inside the gym. I was inside and inside you know, say training and just come back home sometimes bruises sometimes not bruises on I have bruises on my face look into my face like I think it's gonna show in history. But I mean my mom as long as I don't bring proper to my house never she never questioned it. Yes. And of course my greatest had to be up my grades Oh is down doesn't trouble. And I mean,

Jose Flores: 16:17

as as a traditional martial arts school or just in martial arts school, your white tie? Was your instructor heavy, you got to get good grades. Was he always pushing you to get good grades?

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 16:27

No, really? No, we live by I always tell my kids in here. The always tell my Well, I need to have so much match or we go to school and stuff. And my culture wasn't very into that. And he said that happen have to do myself a study.

Jose Flores: 16:52

Yeah, but I mean, the whole just more time. And so it's very discipline,

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 16:56

everything is this. I'm telling you something, this is very important for you, everybody for understand. And discipline is equal freedom. Okay, we don't have discipline, we, we cannot rely on motivation, I cannot rely to be motivated to be aware of mine. I cannot rely on motivations to be to choose to go where was it to be, to fight to be a world champion. To come to United States to move to United States, to live in my house to know to come to another country. I cannot rely on motivation. I rely on discipline and discipline as a dictator myself. This I learn a very safe very early age. So I tell my kids all the time here, you know, you cannot rely on discipline to accompany multiple school you cannot you cannot rely to make your homework. No, sometimes you have to do so much homework that you have to find a motivation you're not going to do it not because the law is boring, but you have to do it because discipline. So sometimes I cannot. I don't want to run but I have to I don't want you to do stuff that I had to but because it is the discipline is the only way it's the only way that I can pursue sex. You know, that's the only way so and I was a very disciplined I still very disciplined we got around doing stuff. That's great.

Jose Flores: 18:28

Yeah, that's awesome.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 18:29

I think that's a design tell my kids all the time here and discipline with stuff. Get your freedom you not to worry so much. Not just

Jose Flores: 18:41

the kids but the adults because there's a lot to hear it as well.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 18:44

That's correct. I mean, I tell it sometimes Yeah. I know so much because I think I'd love to have more free might they choose what they do. Or they want but um yeah. So all my tie Oh, and I didn't mean so let's finish the course I finished my slideshow. And I went to my home I didn't I just show my trophy to my mom, look I got this. Like when when I was fighting so they go My goodness. What are you doing there they told me not to do that. Well, but I keep doing and my mom because this she I am by the age between this age 12 and 15. When I was in the gym, my mom should put him in another place on a club and a club so we can do different sports. Sorry, I can try to just keep it away from this situation to find Nemo swimming to mana went to high school. I want to step into high school. I have a two sports that I could choose. One of those was wrestling on one of those sheets. No. swimming, swimming in the wrestling didn't have any girls. I know was in ages teenager the swim team have a bunch of girls so as I was rash I was wrestling and swim better a better swimmer than wrestler.

Jose Flores: 20:25

Okay,

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 20:26

I was in I was okay wrestling until after no 18 I was just wrestling. I was more swimmer. And I have a girlfriend and one of the same team that I did until all the way through high school. Then I went to want to turn 18 I had I have a time in my life that I had in Brazil, when you finished high school now you can go now army I mean, as a as a male you have to have to present yourself to the to the army. Is it a mandatory mandatory but you can be picked we cannot be pick. It's a draft.

Jose Flores: 21:11

Like here that

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 21:12

is not like he is a volunteer. Oh, here's a volunteer here United States volunteer in Brazil is a draft that's a draft register name Yes. And the newbie draft or not?

Jose Flores: 21:21

Oh, okay.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 21:22

Then are you gonna cause one of those so it says I didn't want to go on college right away because I was cool I didn't want to go from I don't want to go jump straight in college. Then in my way to go and such get a draft but I didn't want to get draft maybe maybe not. So I choose to go into airborne because airborne is a volunteer.

Jose Flores: 21:48

Oh All right.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 21:49

So and also the guy one of those guys that I was fighting sachajuan That was my my main training partner he's the one who my ass all the time. He always you might have a belly and and he was a one he was went to the army he went to the airborne and want to be like him. Oh, so that's why in him my other coach you want to run the guy in the gym was those tough guys. Honestly, I want to be airborne and also if I choose to be nimble and I have toward it being drafted not so oh into the airborne so it was a very extreme year.

Jose Flores: 22:31

Oh my goodness. How was it in the or was it

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 22:34

was it good is very important experience and how long were you there for? Yeah, yeah.

Jose Flores: 22:41

And after that, then you decide to

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 22:43

charge no charge charge. Then I went to college. Okay then. Then they started to call me. I finished the RA. I strange who stayed call then when I started messaging so no need to call.

Jose Flores: 22:57

Oh, so you did too. And that's when you met Carlos Gracie Jr. Yes. Okay. Yes. So that was a This was on in Brazil. This is Brazil I'm gonna sell this Oh wow. How was it like when the the you already know the new the Gracie name going to that score? Were there I know.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 23:14

I know. The name I met the grace name was in 1993

Jose Flores: 23:17

All right.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 23:18

Yeah. 1994 when I left the army like 949599394 when I saw the tape that's what happened. This is what I'm going to the fight so I wasn't airborne No, it wasn't a lunch break. And whether or not I'm cafeteria some dude brought a tape of the UFC three.

Jose Flores: 23:43

Wow All

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 23:43

right. Go see number one is torn nice 93 is then before he brought me FC three. Sorry I can watch we watched kathiria Dude, I couldn't believe the guy little guy could do everything like he did. And I wasn't really Thai fighter and I think I've got to learn to stop this type of thing you know gotta stop trying to jitsu and I 20 G's from 1994 to 1998 maybe? Yeah. And in the meantime, it was wrestling investing in it wasn't new college also. So right to say 299 1998 I get offered my first five Wow.

Jose Flores: 24:33

We I mean 94 to 90 were you a purple belt by then or on jujitsu? Yeah purple belt something like this.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 24:40

But I was a wrestler as well.

Jose Flores: 24:43

I mean, you're getting all these tools wrestling muy Thai. Yeah. Oh,

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 24:49

you so I think that says make me successful in bigass. Because, um, before I started doing to MMA, I already know wrestling entering nilgiri jitsu kinda knows you jitsu you know in no more time well so on that period of time was more about his style against the style

Jose Flores: 25:12

yes it was

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 25:15

was a Jiu Jitsu karate or muy Thai against jitsu muy Thai against wrestled. So this guy doesn't know much about the other martial arts, I have no benefit. So when my own my first fight, I had this benefit so that I knew what what I was doing so even though it wasn't very good on submission, but I knew how to stain standing, I knew how to take the person down and how to strike because you saw in the past No, the guy changes you to hidden he doesn't know anything about boxing. No, no, no fast. No, in those days, it is hard to talk about the bathroom people in those days because sometimes the the, the near past is seems too far away from us, like another century, or to talk to you about a guy changes. Jesus doesn't know anything about bosses. Yeah, he doesn't know anything about a boss. And a wrestler. He doesn't know anything about GTs. He didn't know anything about those days. He does. And he's a little bit and he's because you see, on the back of days, you didn't see anything. So you are in your thing. You didn't have a TV themselves, they have a computer to research anything. You know, one thing this is things that you know, so it's kind of hard to explain the audience. How was it because the people they have more they before the shoot 1000 they can understand more? Right now whatever I say to the new audience, they don't picture very well because they don't have all this before in that type of thing, you know, anyway, so differently, and I feel myself sometimes when I talk to kids, they come from different light now before Jesus Christ. Okay, yes, Dark Ages. So that's it seems to me that from us then if you come from another century, we have seen that we are stuck on a train now because only spreads period. now. Come on. No, no, yes. Because you have to send letters. You have to make a call it puts has to stay at home to receive the call.

Jose Flores: 27:28

That's one of the things when I'm teaching the kids to throw them off. I asked. I tell them all the time. Do you guys know what a rotary phone is? Or when they do this to the phone? And they look at me like no What is that? All right. All right. With my hand I do the circle movement for the car. I used to put the the windows and wonder to go Oh, yeah, that's because my dad has an old car. I don't want to Yeah, that's you know, that's back in the day. But they do look at you like you're a dinosaur. They look at me like yeah, your

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 27:57

old max Brain Stuff. Seems to sometimes seems fast fantasy, but it is not. Easy, though. Fast. So for us to have access to learn here learning this learning that we have to weigh spend on top of this when Brazil, right. No. Doesn't happen on a bass. We didn't fry so much in the nationals. He didn't go No. Was that was really inside the country any once in a lifetime. You got to take. They'd be watching over and over. Yes, you know, and you have to rewind. It's not just you know,

Jose Flores: 28:41

yeah. Just had to

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 28:43

rewind, back and play rewind, play rewind playing Sterling rewind and play a going to gym and train, rewind play in this wasn't like an honor. Isn't it

Jose Flores: 28:55

hand tool with the fingers, like

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 28:58

the finger steps is different. So and what I'm trying to say that and that before me somebody came in those days somebody came before those people saw when it when they see the word goats, you know, greatest all time, it doesn't exist, because it has the greatest of your time. So great all the time. It doesn't, because it doesn't exist, because everybody has a different tools and different different sets. So if you walk right now, somebody walked in this pathway before you you know, and you have to respect in the old generation that respect my old generations. And these older generations had this new generation had to respect the old generation. That's it, so they had to have more in those days. We missed a little bit.

Unknown: 29:49

Yeah,

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 29:50

respect with the different generations, you know.

Jose Flores: 29:52

Yeah. I mean, it's awesome. Now that you see all these new generations coming up. I think I saw GSP ampere, he said invest in this generation, it's going to be better than the last generation. And then the generation after them, they're going to be better than their generation. And that's the wonderful thing all martial art. It's evolving. Yes, it doesn't stay the same,

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 30:13

but sometimes is involved in the correct way. That's the only problem.

Jose Flores: 30:18

Wait, tell me more about that. What do you mean?

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 30:21

I mean, that we've got as a fighters though, what I feel is those days martial arts is something that to be have a have no rules, but standards or cornerstones, you know, that you have to raise. So the things go together? Well, one of those is respect, honor, fraternity, all those things you need to have together and a fighter. It's not about you. It's not about is it? There's a lot of things that goes along together well, and because the capitalism money and it's not it's not Um Don't take me wrong, I'm not Communist or anything like that. I just said that. You the captain is bringing you to fight for money knowing money is money Money is not doesn't own wasn't more important to me here. Because money comes and goes, you know, this is what it is and but your story your your what you what you pass the next generation that's why is important and sometimes you you have an attitude because thinking about the money. That's the only thing there is, I think this will lead you to have some attitudes that doesn't look well and you don't you don't give a good example to others, you know, and going back regardless, we don't have in those days and what I see see my gym I don't train much more professional fighters in my gym, train more Jiu Jitsu and I like to train kids This is my my main focus here it gets because I think then I have more impact in their life. I have more impact in the kid's life anything else and I can use martial arts as a tool to modify in the cat tourniquets. Only professional fight coming he cared about him, you know, a professional fighter capable him they care about what he's going to do is going to win. And if you don't give him what he does need right now there's no right or wrong. They mean he actually goes he leaves he had because he needed that time, be perfect to fight but that moment he's not he's him You know? And we forget about who's teaching in the past he forget about always what the person is he has to go sometime you have to know by humility, being humble, humble know you've been too cocky sometime because you met them you had to to be cocky but this is the type of things that people forget you know? Because no I come here and train with you because here's the best camp the best trainer come here train and get the best one here I trained well then goodbye a few Well, I go home I think about my fight you know, I don't think I'm on my praying partners maternity partners are well they're going to grow they're gonna learn together martial arts is going to they're going to help each other you know, if my coaches well in they don't you don't care as much you know them? No, he's just the model or the business that doesn't go well what i think you know, martial arts is something that you need to care about what's going around though, not your ball even in your pond, they have to respect your opponent so much because if you're gonna have him you don't have a fight. That is true. So and I see those days by coming in and see ya know,

Unknown: 34:14

we'll share

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 34:15

that too you know, that day these respect to chat, but they forget dude, if the guy wasn't there, it didn't have proponent You know, you're gonna fight against against her shallow you know, because they had to stay there respect to him. Yes. He wants to beat me like it wants to beat him. But this was It's nothing to do his mother's not to do his family that's doing his religion. You know? I respect him the way he is, you know, he wants to kill me Okay, just can kill. That's okay. Yeah, killing is a it's not going to be an animal when the goal or a lion want to go kill a zebra. He doesn't curse zebras mother. He doesn't know You know me, he just going kill it. That's what his goal is just to go there to see what's going on inside just once again, target kill both clean kill, leave, eat, grab your prey leave it without being dispatched to anyone else. You know, this is what it is.

Jose Flores: 35:16

This is why it has to be. Yeah, you know? And you know what? It's it's funny no one. It's because I remember back when UFC was getting bigger. I come from a very traditional school karate school where we spend you bow you say sir you say ma'am. And I remember when UFC was getting bigger, everybody wanted to train MMA. And they well they're trained MMA, but they didn't have that respect as you were talking. They just went in there and thought about them. But they like to the culture when one night I could be wrong when I the whole respect is left

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 35:56

up the window is that he was here knighted states this year, but the way they sell if they wouldn't sell there, I think the way they sell the fighters United States wasn't very good. In the beginning. The model is they do near the attraction with the guy Oh, bad guy. They try to make it good and bad guy. You're right. In Japan, we used to make a good and bad guy as well. Yes. But on the other way, you know, on the mysteries way on the bad guy. Because it is a holy story. Everything is story. Right? I never saw it. I never saw me. How can you do like me, you know, just destroy that you make it up this script, you know, then quit in the head and that's what happened pretty much. Okay, when is your penny does that we do on the honorable way. You know, they focus more on the guy system training system. You know, what you do? is a family and family got this? Because all these stories that people tell here you know before the fight the guy there to build the castle, the fighter, the hegemon, Japan as well. But okay, everybody was a different mindset. You know, it was the day No, you you don't want to see you want to see a fight? Not just back for persons.

Jose Flores: 37:14

Yeah, no, I mean, I'm glad I mean, I don't know, just and I'm still very like that, like, with yourself, mister. So brah I say this was a raw with every person that I read. I go by their last name, because that's how I was raised in ways they might

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 37:28

talk to you from Brasilia, Mexico, Mexico. You know, I honor is simply a very valuable skill to go. And that's sometimes the money doesn't buy, you know, people does understand this in this regard. Business. You've got anything else? Sometimes. I'm gonna give them an example for you right now here. I happen to know, a couple days ago mpfl police was fighting against Yes, I guess the guy the guy Tat, right. But in the city. And then if you didn't stop the fight, the fight can go in. And the guy finishing it up. Not very soon. But he said before, but and the way the result the referee didn't see the guy tapping. And the reason for this, the reason they go the opponent head what the guy should do. She didn't think about winning, because when it's not everything that they say, when it's everything is not when it's not everything. Honors everything. You know, it's grandma's awards, honors if they are important. So if you come here you tap, and you don't see that you tapped him because he wants to win because he wants to think about the money and think about winning and win this guy. This is such a this is not honorable fight. You know, it'd be better to say the referee. That will be much better if we read this and say no, he won. I tap that you'll be a victorious look. See this? Yes, I see. Even for this one, you'll be more victorious, losing, telling. No I tapped.

Unknown: 39:06

That is true.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 39:06

But no, yeah. The value and then I asked him, then everybody was he's a he was a bad guy. He's a designer's blah, blah. You know what I said? No, it wasn't his problem. Was his coach problem? Because if he was my student, oh, pitching him. But he would never do this again. Yes, yeah. Yeah, this is pretty much what to do. If you have any guy say a funny guy. He said No, he didn't tell me. This is always going for I don't think this is much a lot in here. People are in it sometimes more or not like myself. Like Kebede Don't take lightly you know if you did expect more you have to be ready.

Jose Flores: 40:03

Oh yes.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 40:04

Oh no that just happened to come eat no definitely to me as well. Yeah,

Jose Flores: 40:10

yeah, I mean I kind of heard about I mean I read a bit about it and he was being the the gentleman was being very disrespectful so I know sometimes you have to sell tickets but from my standpoint and you correct me if I'm wrong you don't talk about me okay that's fine but don't go after my family like I said don't go after my religion don't go after you know my personal stuff mean you can say what you want about me when once you go family religion nothing that's something else that's

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 40:42

Yeah, that's and that time he called me He called me can I say he called me motherfucker. But in remember motherfucker if it translates to you in Portuguese say Madrid for their daughter so at that time I didn't know as much as it seemed motherfuckers like a son of a bitch It's like my mother's a hook or something like this you know my after leaving the United States I see motherfucking somebody not you know you call me motherfucker can be in good ways and bad way Yeah, I say that you know Islam Yes. When you call me mother focusing fuck you know?

Unknown: 41:20

Oh really?

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 41:22

Gotta be ready but tomorrow

Jose Flores: 41:25

gotta be ready.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 41:27

Yeah, everyone I look over there. You look at the other side. I don't I don't say good money for my opponent. No, after the fight we shake shake hands with one before the fight look at you tell them a face and shake your hand do my thing. Do your thing. You know? Now you might pray. I mean, your pray is not you get a hanging out together. You know, you know, it doesn't mean we I'm in my own mind zone or my zone unit zone II that's it. We've got an extra day fight. After the fight, go outside, have a shot of whiskey hug. This is what it is and then go to the next one. And I hope I never hurt my opponent. So he can fight another one and make money again. And I hope we don't get hurt. So they can fight again making money. This is what it's simple. Like this is no more complicated this you know,

Jose Flores: 42:16

yeah. And it's and it's hard because we are in a very drama in a very drama place where everything has to be drama there everybody has to build up everything so that's how they have to sell tickets you know what

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 42:30

we can't do you can't do you can't sell King that's that's the American didn't competition is Japan. They sold a lot of tickets in Japan or 1000 peoples in arena sometimes you know 50,000 or 1000 in arena watching the fight they sold in different ways. They saw only honor they saw they make they make the fires a different level. In Japan we feel fire. You're a different person. You're a half God, you know, they want to touch you. Like you want to touch like a special person. Right? You know, it's different. It is more swarms. Yes, more your soul. No, you you you given everything because in Japan, this will expand to you know if you know in Japan, the sumo fighters, they represent their own village. Okay, so when they go to compete against each other on the actual time, there are two Sumo fighters they're gonna fight against each other. The everybody watching because they do something really brave, then nobody can do it. That's true. Nobody can do it. So they do something. You compete against each other. They finish over they just leave. Yes. So they were very special person because they fight for them. You know, they fight for the village. So they're they they're three different human beings. Yeah, no, that's not what he wore. I think we had semi human beings but we did find those someday you don't have nuts to do it. Maybe you think you do but you don't. Yeah. Because if you do, he will be there. So you Don't you like it? So they should be the person who has a special person you know, as a as a, like, almost like a superhero type of thing like the professional athletes are, you know, we all have a different special abilities. You're not just you personally go over there like a cockfight. Or people fight you know Yeah,

Unknown: 44:30

yeah, just

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 44:32

give me this high feeling man. Like a clown. Yeah,

Jose Flores: 44:37

that's and that's because you I mean, you still are in great fighter. However I yeah. At the end it just like you said either two roosters going at it or two pimples and at the end is like Okay, next. So yeah, I get that. So let's let's talk about let's let's go back a little let's talk about you finally into the UFC. How did you get that car? How did that go about?

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 45:03

How do you go to UFC? Yeah, well you know, I've been fighting UFC was nifc 2428 or something as before that was the last UFC before different series born UFC was in your old organization still and Mako who was fighting against Marcy Smith, Martha's megaphones and was a big knockout guys in the past and he beat my professor and then he asked me to find him in better his was my training partner as well. And at the time, he was fighting for the for the heavyweight division and that was the same thing and then a better his and then they asked him to find Martin Smith say okay, I fight then I would say here if I'm UFC but then I want to come back to Brazil defeated as body FC as a little pit stop then at the time they asked me to drop away to go to 93 I have to live way I have to say no go and same week last year my my friend partner then I've done after this fight in Japan then come back to my savings fund.

Jose Flores: 46:22

And you're talking about this area but because I've seen it there's a difference in the crowds between the United States crowds in Japan crowds in buzu crowds in Brazil

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 46:33

and even Russia.

Jose Flores: 46:36

But what what crowd Do you like to be under like then you probably because you find everywhere so which crowd that you get the most vibe the most? You know, Japan Japan

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 46:48

quiet Really? Yes. Just so you just hear noise off your foot the new ring cha cha and 1.11 movie goal you see anyway oh oh what's the why have one or other crazy Japanese fantic yell something like the most like 50,000 people why just hit it

Jose Flores: 47:21

what's been the loudest crowd Brazil Brazil Brazil

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 47:26

yeah Brazil before you come to fighting Kevin McCarthy you're gonna die you're gonna die you're gonna die gonna die tonight gonna die tonight and rice it to the Russians funny one fight before my fight in Russia I think the two guys do they like to fight you don't want to fight the other kind of backup too much that they start throwing coins in the ring they want me to go in and ring they have to swept in the ring because it's coins.

Jose Flores: 48:01

Oh my goodness. That's crazy. She is and I mean, aside from the UFC, you you went to Strikeforce and how many how many fights Do you fought before you won the title in Strikeforce?

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 48:19

No, do not

Jose Flores: 48:20

no first fight the first fight because it wasn't a new organization coming up or it

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 48:27

wasn't what was? What didn't happen? I forgot. I don't know man. I was fighting somewhere else. Then. I got a chance to fight. They're just in I was fighting different places or it's a couple. I didn't know when I fought in Strikeforce. I know, the Scott Coker, the owner, the developer in those days and invited me to go there. The friend of mine, my manager. Yeah. So could you come here and fight straight for the title? Okay, that's good.

Jose Flores: 49:02

winning the title. Did the fuel just like when you did the spinning over to the 18 year

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 49:07

old? No, no, no, I feel my most important event was a think in. There wasn't the title itself wasn't a formal tournament in Denver was a three fights one night only still was possible to have in the United States. Yes, I was. Travel pregnant Maurice cheban. Who in January horn has three fights one I saw and then I 4545 minutes. Yes, that was that was the thing that was the most important event of my life. Wow. So three fights.

Jose Flores: 49:46

Of course. I'm not sure who I know during the horn. Wow. So you actually three fights,

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 49:53

three fights, one identity make the mind there was there was a lot a lot of things going on that time. Because that year, I was one year before I moved to I was leaving the United States in 2000 to 2000.

Unknown: 50:12

Think the dates here.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 50:19

I was leaving knight to turn she was leaving my state 2003 and moved back to Brazil. I think Yeah, come on the data is kind of bad. But anyway, so I came back to Brazil. My brother was sick. And then I was training. Because I happen to fight this tournament. This tournament supposed to be in July, in Denver, and I was in Brazil training. My brother was very sick very well, very ill. And then the best, the good thing, the fight was postponed for September. So I have a really rough training period of time. And because he he dragged himself into June, he passed in June 23. And on September 6, or sliding, and there was there was a very important for me.

Jose Flores: 51:14

That's, and wow. And I mean, can you I don't know if it's okay. Can you tell me more about your brother? How

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 51:22

was he was he very, my brother, my older brother. He's my biggest fan. And v a lot. We we caught a lot of trouble together. And ease. You had my back many times. I'm really young. Really? Yes. So like I said before, on the beginning of the history story here.

Jose Flores: 51:49

Yes.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 51:50

I was kind of in trouble many times. And many times, he's the one had to corner my back. And he was there. He was there with me. And then I'll strive to be there for him this week. And I was living here and I say 2003. And then I moved back to Brazil to to help him a little bit. And

Jose Flores: 52:12

and that's awesome. That's nice to have a brother that has your back. Yeah, I

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 52:17

know. He has my back a lot. But I haven't been back at too many times. Yes. Oh, man, I

Jose Flores: 52:23

can only picture those titles. So you got you got your black belt in jujitsu? I drew a blank in late 90s.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 52:35

No, no, I got my black belt. So 2000 6006 All right.

Jose Flores: 52:40

Is there any rent that you enjoy coming up the ranks? And

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 52:49

now every is kind of is that is hard to explain for you because I was professional fighter. And since the beginning was on fire? Yes. You know, I was a fighter wasn't the guy to come to the gym morning to get my black belt. I came to the gym to knocking people off. I came to the gym to learn how to fight. that period of time, I was a different mode. I was just my goal is to come to the gym, I learned everything. I learned everything on the way. What was my goal wasn't I wasn't teach wasn't my goal was never to be a professor. I didn't never thought I was going to be professional martial arts. My only goal that I have to be a killer.

Jose Flores: 53:37

Wow. I like that.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 53:39

Yes. The only thing that I was taught in my life, or like i said if I had to use a lot of discipline, one of those days want to win the tournament or my brother was sick, right? I had to go to the hospital between doctors and train and then have to go regardless because I wasn't feeling motivation at all. But I have a discipline and when discipline took me to the championship, and that's why so however we made you know, on that time also by the age of straining 22 I don't know what would be a killer and then I know that I had to do to be a killer and that's the only thing that I had to do it

Jose Flores: 54:23

Wow and you have

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 54:25

like I said like I told you people doesn't think I care about my call take care my coach back button was there to learn and not to be the best IGN on there. I am telling you what how how can I still training and I still training though. You know how I can still train after lose couple times right in after when? Because the PCR perfection was making me happy. My

Jose Flores: 55:00

profession

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 55:00

received the perfection and the training every day in to try to think isn't perfect every day because I'm fine design tried to I wasn't what I was trying all the day to be perfect to win on the gym to win and Cheney not to not like I said waiting for me is no everything win for me just the way but I want to perfect it I want to be very good and something that was doing so I want to learn so I want to learn all the time this one jitsu is amazing because it uses keep evolving there's a source never stop once the altar this thought I know everything. They're never gonna happen and so that's why it keeps me coming up learning learning with different people new newpaper person

Jose Flores: 55:54

Yeah, so what do you talk to your students and this could be from adults to kids and I don't know if you phrase it differently when they come and tell you especially the parent Oh my child's not as motivated anymore to come on in my you know he's having a hard time what do you what do you say to that?

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 56:12

I'll tell look if I have a pizza if I have a salad you're going to choose a pizza because if I have a couch and I'm happy to see standing you will sit down on a couch are alive in those days are made for us to leave we have got it that's why you do it again. You come here to procreate to live grow up procreate more comfortable as possible. Anyway now we have so much to sneakers comfortable with me no and we don't have to get imagined this because it's hard to think this your parents now look you want to eat tech just Uber Eats master click you don't have to go walk anymore. You don't have to walk to your car anymore you know in the kids he can talk to his friends without leaving their home because he can talk him away he can he can think he has a lot of action sitting on the couch because he playing video game so it's natural for any species to stay still we're the hunt yield a few species on the planet they run without grab something because we run no animals does the only run if we need to get something and then we don't have to catch any prey anymore because we like I said we evolve that's correct it's normal for anyone else stay wants to stay home but the only way the kid will come here if you are teaching him the discipline

Unknown: 58:03

to come

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 58:05

you got to have a base if you don't want to come in you have this you want to come but you have to come every single day. But that's when you learn discipline was matter of discipline what it is discipline when you do something he don't want you to do it because everybody wants to know relax everybody wants to man everybody wants to succeed all the time. Buddy are alive is 90% bioship net 2% is a good time Yes. If you don't if you don't want to stroll you don't you don't you don't leave though. Yes. So the daddy come in stroll to come to the gym and learn how to know the process to come gym learn this Allah makes him do well or something. That's why I'm telling the parents. So you see, the kids don't want to wait to come no more. Actually, I also I tried to disarm tell the parents but I'm trying to just myself as well to try to see where I'm teaching right what I'm teaching wrong. Also, of course I put myself on check all the time. Like I told you before like to be perfect on Friday now like to be perfect teaching. I'm going to be perfect the way I'm teaching like to be perfect to express myself.

Jose Flores: 59:24

Yeah, and you know, that that's pretty good. Because I mean for the parents. I tell I tell them all the time. You know what? If you had the choice to if they told you today I don't want to go to school. What would you say?

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 59:37

Yeah, and I don't want to Oh, yeah. Honestly play video games, you know and appreciate your time. No,

Jose Flores: 59:44

you gotta go to school. So you as a parent, you know what's good for them? You're the parent and always pet that

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 59:50

see you thinking that was good for them. Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah, me like myself. Yeah.

Jose Flores: 59:56

Well, I mean, as far as like martial arts because you know how much money to get you You know, that's going to help them in the long run. Yeah, you will. That's, that's my sense where I was going, Yeah, what's good for them. And I tell them always plant that seed in their head, you know what you, you're gonna have one or two things, you're gonna stick with karate or martial arts, you get to muy Thai, it's going to be one of those, when you're not going to talk to me back on those, you're gonna stick with that. The other ones, there's some leverage.

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 1:00:24

A lot of our defenders of the scooter we don't bond with, in Korea, we can teach to another area to your teacher. So a professor, you know, sometimes, courses is something that's so important and my friend and I, especially on those days that you've been so inside, in your bubble, you don't put yourself so much outside, and then you're gonna have to pull yourself eventually you're gonna have to deal with interviews, you're going to have to deal with an on your wedding, you're gonna have to deal with the born off your first child, then you cannot call your mother You cannot, you cannot press any app to to deliver my baby, you know, we're gonna have to deal with this problem. You know, right, you cannot get married. And then look into the phone. You have to be there cuz you need to kiss the bride. You need to you need to dress up next day. You need somebody to fit, you need to have a job interview. You need to talk to your boss. You're going to have decision in life. They have to have rain, pouring rain and it has to go outside by something he cannot be afraid. The little things there you come here in the gym. There's little things that you little by little, you, you kind of make the ingrown hair in the butt. You know, kind of little by little, little by little they say no, I don't want you to go No you go they're afraid Okay, stay here today. Then you push a little bit. One little one little victory they won't drop v2 him the gym is the ocean of victory outside. So that's so high if I seen him and want a kid that they have another kid on top of you a bigger kid no is more and, and heavier. And boy and they have a little girl and she know how to get out of this situation from this. Dude, yeah, that gives her so much confidence. Because a long run, you know, you don't see that. But, you know, we martial waters, we can see the benefits of them. And we don't we don't born learn how to fight. We don't you know, we born out to walk. I mean, they're eating the walk. You have been touched to us. No more natural beauty learn how to. to brief. Right, right. Yeah, you can breathe you can eat as normal for us. And, and what else Ron maybe, you know, besides that, it needs to learn how to cook, enjoy or how choose to swimming. bicycle. You know how to defend yourself? It's a natural for human beings, you know? Right?

Jose Flores: 1:03:15

They drive

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 1:03:16

in a nice drive. Yeah. Look is one thing, you know, be in the gym here. One day, a daughter had to go on the freeway. And she will be afraid, you know. But if you need to build the core is little by little little by little Shima ago. This whole goal was you know, is how you building kids. You push a little bit here and they'll come here is kind of recreating the chaos situation inside the gym on a controlled environment.

Jose Flores: 1:03:53

Yeah, we've done that. Right there because I mean,

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 1:03:57

mimics fight, mimic situation. We put it in the check in here and then you know, here in the gym and we see a kid he does something he doesn't do well, and you cannot leave him behind. You have to teach him how to learn. Because you know why you're not going to have somebody to train with his whole thing. You know, on this benefit you have the martial arts is hard to have in different sports.

Jose Flores: 1:04:24

It is it is and that's why I always tell the parents that even if they don't want to attend our studio or whatnot. I tell them you know what, if you could find a martial arts that they can stick with stick with it because it helps. It helps. I believe because they helped me. I used to be very shy very in the show. Couldn't get one word out of me. Really. And now my even my own instructor tells me Was it Jose you talked a lot. Oh there you you talk You talk a lot. that'll add this helped me a lot. And even doing this, I believe martial arts helped me doing this. Because before coming up to someone say, Hey, would you like to do my podcast? That to me would have been like, Oh, yeah, no, no, I

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 1:05:14

wouldn't have the courage. Yeah, we'll see. Yeah, so those little things in my mind, tell what here, you know, interaction with others, I think is going to be the most important tool for the future, you know, interacting with others in relationship with other person, you know, and I see fighters have a lot of, we know, as of right now, my point of view right now, when I see all the fighters, they all well talk, they all know how to express themselves. They all know to be not afraid of society.

Unknown: 1:05:50

That's true. Yeah.

Jose Flores: 1:05:53

Well, my survival, I know we could stay here and talk all day. Thank you for your time, sir. I appreciate it. For everyone that's looking for it to get to German and terenas where are you located? I

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 1:06:06

am in in pioneer Boulevard in Surrey rose by the fire station. And just babalu babalu BJJ con if you interesting. And just not sure come here. dm us up on Instagram bubble OBJ. So just go ahead and take a look and making questions.

Jose Flores: 1:06:27

Right. So redoes Sr. cerritos is this will continue

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 1:06:32

Orange County here or border water board because the way LA County and the county because that's when the water because next next city in down there, Artesia notches. You know where Park is punchcard

Jose Flores: 1:06:48

Alright, and one last thing before we go, Is this correct when you get the nickname Baba Luna used to chew gum in Brazil? all the time? Yes. Wow. Well, is it better than

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: 1:07:04

my butcher cavolo

Jose Flores: 1:07:09

go That's awesome. All right. Well, Mr. Sabral, thank you so much, sir. for your time. Okay, my friend, everyone. Thank you for tuning in. See you guys next time.