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18/03/10 - Babalu signs for DREAM, enters LHW grand prix
Former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Renato "Babalu" Sobral (35-8) is headed to Japan after signing a multi-fight deal with the country’s leading MMA promotion DREAM, it was reported today by MMA Junkie. Sobral will take part in the light-heavyweight grand prix tournament which commences May 30th.
"The opportunity presented itself, and we've been asking to fight, and it seemed the soonest opportunity to fight is in DREAM. The way we see it is we're representing Strikeforce in Japan,” said Sobral's attorney-manager Richard Wilner.
Interestingly, current Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi - who took the belt from Babalu - is also said to be participating in the DREAM light-heavyweight tournament. DREAM and Strikeforce have a talent-sharing agreement in place.
According to Wilner, Sobral is very eager to get a rematch with the Armenian. "Taking nothing away from Gegard, it wasn't 'Babalu' in the cage that night, A lot of guys don't need to have hate in their heart to fight, but Babalu's thankful to Gegard for giving him back that hate."
DREAM 15 takes place on May 30th and will feature Thierry Sokoudjou in addition to Mousasi and Sobral. The rest of the light-heavyweights taking part in the grand prix will be announced in the coming weeks.
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