https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/4/30/18514466/retired-fighter-renato-sobral-cte-issues-mma
Sucks that he is struggling with his health. I do wonder how much it is due to fighting and how much is due to other activities.
N5Z -Sucks that he is struggling with his health. I do wonder how much it is due to fighting and how much is due to other activities.
I always wonder about this too since so many fighters like to party
he’s been in some wars, thats for sure
I hope he gets better, always one of my favs
TTT for Babalu
Sad news, the guy's a pioneer.
Besides Travis Fulton and Jeremy Horn, Babalu has fought in more one-night tournaments than almost anyone.
Sept. 27th 1997: 3 fights (3-0)
July 24th 1999: 3 fights (3-0)
Oct. 28th 1999: 2 fights (1-1)
Feb. 26th 2000: 3 fights (2-1)
Oct. 9th 2000: 2 fights (1-1)
Sept. 6th 2003: 3 fights (3-0)
Man, old-school MMA fighters had balls of steel, but unfortunately (and unsurprisingly) they're now starting to feel the effects of all that brain trauma... Sucks to hear.
"Today I can’t walk a straight line, I lost sight of my left eye, which is a big price (to pay). I have no balance today, my balance is almost zero.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to see my grandkids, enjoy my grandkids in a normal way, because I’m starting to slowly feel the effects.”
I have osteoarthritis on my entire body. My knee. I have 13 surgeries through my entire body. So, there’s a price (to pay)."
VJ Poons -Sad news, the guy's a pioneer.
Besides Travis Fulton and Jeremy Horn, Babalu has fought in more one-night tournaments than almost anyone.
Sept. 27th 1997: 3 fights (3-0)
July 24th 1999: 3 fights (3-0)
Oct. 28th 1999: 2 fights (1-1)
Feb. 26th 2000: 3 fights (2-1)
Oct. 9th 2000: 2 fights (1-1)
Sept. 6th 2003: 3 fights (3-0)
Man, old-school MMA fighters had balls of steel, but unfortunately (and unsurprisingly) they're now starting to feel the effects of all that brain trauma... Sucks to hear.
Vovchanchyn and Oleynik are up there in tournaments too. It would be cool to see a list of the top ten with the #s.
Sad news, he had the best hair in mma.
Sucks, dang
BJ Penn Forever -VJ Poons -Sad news, the guy's a pioneer.
Besides Travis Fulton and Jeremy Horn, Babalu has fought in more one-night tournaments than almost anyone.
Sept. 27th 1997: 3 fights (3-0)
July 24th 1999: 3 fights (3-0)
Oct. 28th 1999: 2 fights (1-1)
Feb. 26th 2000: 3 fights (2-1)
Oct. 9th 2000: 2 fights (1-1)
Sept. 6th 2003: 3 fights (3-0)
Man, old-school MMA fighters had balls of steel, but unfortunately (and unsurprisingly) they're now starting to feel the effects of all that brain trauma... Sucks to hear.
Vovchanchyn and Oleynik are up there in tournaments too. It would be cool to see a list of the top ten with the #s.
Agreed, I'd like to see a top 10 listicle of that too
I always felt sorry for Babalu. He was one of those guys that seemed to always sabotage himself.
I’m sure he had skilled coaches and went into fights with a gameplan but he would get rocked trying some stupid stuff and then immediately try that stupid stuff again and get knocked out. Running at Chuck Liddell with your chin up would get you knocked out in those days. Refusing the referees command to let go while looking him straight in the eyes is what gets you released from the UFC. When you are in Strikeforce and some name recognition and a good fight gets you a title shot you take that title shot! You don’t decline title shots because you want to fight Dan Henderson instead, only to get knocked out quickly.
Some people seem to just have something in them that compels them to make the wrong decisions and it stung my heart to see him weep on the mat as he looked up at a jubilant Hendo as he realized his gamble backfired once again. Babalu retired citing brain issues as he would easily get rocked nowadays and some time later he expressed interest in fighting again anyway which leads me to believe he isn’t exactly rich. So here he is, he was so good but could have done so much more had he zigged all those times he zagged. And now it seems he has CTE. Part of the game, sure, but I felt sorry for the guy before and it just gets worse for him.
Don't know what his personal life was like, but I would t doubt CTE for a second. These guys are warriors. It's a tough sport.
I like MMA because I truly believe there is less permanent damage than in boxing. I still believe this. Boxing's "get knocked down, get back up" rules is massively damaging to the combatants. I like that MMA can end by tap, that fight time is shorter, and that they can't jump right back after a ko. That being said, there is still a price. Everyone fighting should take a realistic look at it, it could be in their future. That's the sport.
Loved watching babalu fight. Guy was very good.
I always liked and rooted for Babalu, but it was hard to be a fan after the shit he pulled that got him dropped by the UFC.
Still, sad to hear he’s punchy now.
Well he mentions getting KOed in training and fighting the next week, hopefully that’s a thing of the past and people (coaches and athletes) have wised up. The Chute Boxe style wars between fights don’t make for a long healthy life.
Even a guy with a style like Justin Gaethje can get off fairly well if he doesn’t also get destroyed in training. We know better now. We didn’t.
He looked like a serial killer during his walkouts
I wish him the best
Being one of the greatest light heavyweights of the night definitely comes at a cost.
Hopefully S’raldo’s health improves.
Tough to hear, always rooted for him.
One of the reasons I will never fight MMA or join a striking art.
BJJ is enough for me
triforce -One of the reasons I will never fight MMA or join a striking art.
BJJ is enough for me
this