Report: Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. Rafael "Feijao" Calvancante Off June 6th Strikeforce Card

by Leland Roling on Apr 21, 2009 9:23 AM EDT Comment 24 comments

Promoted from the FanPosts by Kid Nate.

According to MMAWeekly's radio show, the light heavyweight matchup between former UFC and PRIDE fighter Renato "Babalu" Sobral and up-and-coming talent Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante scheduled to take place from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri has been called off. The reasoning is that Sobral's wife will be having a baby on May 24th:

The news was announced on MMAWeekly Radio Monday night by Feijao's manager, Ed Soares, who said that his fighter is still expected to be on the card, but still hopeful to get a shot at the title upon Babalu's return later this year.

Sobral's manager, Richard Wilner, later confirmed the postponement. "When the fight was originally proposed, it was for a May date that was kind of up in the air. Strikeforce used that date for the (Sho MMA: Strikeforce Challengers) show, then told us the date was going to change to June 6," he told MMAWeekly.com. "We basically said okay, but about three days after that, the doctor's confirmed that Babalu's baby was meant to be born on May 24. Then we immediately told Scott Coker and Strikeforce. The fight was then postponed to the August show."

I find it a bit odd that Strikeforce would announce and book the fight after the original fight date was completely up in the air due to the due date of Sobral's child being unknown at the time. The move to June 6th probably didn't help matters any as it is well within a week or two span of the original date.

Nonetheless, it does hinder the card a bit, but at least the fight will take place somewhere down the road. Feijao will still fight on the card, so that's at least a plus in terms of getting him some exposure and giving him a chance to impress fans who may not have seen him in the past.

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The current trend with Strikeforce cards seems to be a lot of hype around potential matchups, and then the actual card pails in comparison. Not a good trend.

by AlwaysRelaxing on Apr 21, 2009 9:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately this is true...

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by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 21, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is the fight I was most hyped for. Big Babalu fan :(

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Apr 21, 2009 9:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

^ Tito's reaction to the news

by subo on Apr 21, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too bad they just booked Ruiz-Rosa, they could have put Rosa in there against Feijao.

They could do Feijao-Southworth, or maybe Jared Hamman if they picked up his contract.

Or maybe they’ll look to outsource…

by Chris Nelson on Apr 21, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Feijao vs. Southworth has to be the leading candidate here.

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by Leland Roling on Apr 21, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or maybe they’ll look to outsource…

I want them to get King Mo for it, just so that I can see Supremacy and Smoogy go at it.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Apr 21, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i could get behind seeing King Mo in MO.

by snet tim on Apr 21, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately he’s on the shelf until July or August, just had surgery for a torn ACL.

by Chris Nelson on Apr 21, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

:( damn.

that’s a quick recovery for a torn ACL.

by snet tim on Apr 21, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The reasoning is that Sobral will be having a baby on May 24th:

He’s a chick?

I guess he does look slightly more feminine than Cyborg

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 21, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

NO FIGHTER BASHING

by Chris Nelson on Apr 21, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait...

who was I bashing? Cyborg? ;)

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 21, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point. I’m not sure.

by Chris Nelson on Apr 21, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

if Babalu is indeed a woman having this baby…. could we get a black strip or some pasties to cover those nips…. his boobs offend me.

by Gunslinger20 on Apr 21, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Babalu will only release his grip on the baby

when Mazzagati steps in and yanks him off.

by Scott Haber on Apr 21, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crappy.

Just crappy.

Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion

by The Kittitas Kid on Apr 21, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Strikeforce is probably getting rid of this fight so that Babalu and Tito Ortiz can fight. If Sobral had lost to Calvancante, it would taken a lot away from the fight.

by AnonymousA on Apr 21, 2009 12:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This might work out just fine.

If they can find a replacement for Babalu (which they should be able to, they have plenty of time), then they can give Feijao a fight to build up his name recognition, and make him a more credible challenger.

As someone previously stated, Southworth of Hamman would both be fantastic opponents.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Apr 21, 2009 8:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I believe that’s Sir Southworth of Hamman. ;-)

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Apr 21, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Apr 21, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would rather see Cyrill Diabate than Southworth, who is better suited to be matched against Kevin Randleman. That way, you help to line up the next challenger.

by madiq on Apr 22, 2009 2:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Totally forgot about Cyrill. That would be a great fight.

by Chris Nelson on Apr 22, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah...

did Strikeforce pick Cyrill up? Because that WOULD be a great fight. I’d bank on Feijao employing a ‘Shogun’ like gameplan- surviving on the feet, and then scoring a takedown and controlling him on the ground for a Sub/ (T)KO/ UD.