Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral vs Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou Affliction fight booked for ‘Day of Reckoning’
By: MMAmania
It didn’t take long for the “African Assassin” to find a new home.
Affliction MMA today announced that it has picked up Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and will pit him against Renato “Babalu” Sobral in a light heavyweight attraction at “Day of Reckoning” at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on January 24.
Sokoudjou — who burst onto the scene back in the Pride FC heyday with impressive knockout wins over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Ricardo Arona — was recently cut by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The Team Quest-trained fighter struggled inside the Octagon, losing twice in three attempts.
He was most recently pounded out by Luis Cane in the second round at UFC 89: “Bisping vs. Leben” back in October. The talented Cameroonian striker and Judokan is just 24 years old. He has a tendency in recent fights to oured it on thick in the opening minutes of his fights and the fade fast as time elapses.
Sokoudjou will need to fix that if he has any chance of defeating the experienced and dangerous Brazilian.
“Babalu” was originally scheduled to take on Matt Lindland on this card at a catchweight of 195 pounds. That decision, however, was soon reversed when “Babalu” stopped Bobby Southworth a few weeks ago to capture the Strikeforce light heavyweight championship.
Lindland will now take on Vitor Belfort on the televised pay-per-view (PPV) card.
“Babalu” is fresh of a technical knockout win over Southworth in the co-main event of Strikeforce: “Destruction” from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., just last month. Southworth sustained a nasty cut over his right eye courtesy of a Sobral elbow. While he finished the round, the ringside physician would not clear him to continue, effectively declaring Sobral the winner and king of the Strikeforce light heavies.
“Day of Reckoning,” which was originally slated to go down on October 11, 2008, before being postponed, will feature one of the most anticipated fights in the history of the sport between WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko and former UFC title holder Andrei Arlovski.
Prior to the PPV broadcast, which will be produced and distributed by Showtime Networks Inc. in conjunction with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, several fights will be televised on the HDNet channel.
In fact, a light heavyweight tilt between Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Vladimir Matyushenko will headline the televised HDNet preliminary card that will serve as a lead in to the PPV event, which is slated to begin at 9 p.m. ET on fight night.
To check out the latest Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” fight card and rumors click here.
43 Comments »
This is a good addition to the card. I got Babalu by armbar.
I got babalu too, as long as he’s in shape, sokujo can’t beat him.
chef, how’s the new job?
brendan, we gonna watch the dec. 27th event together?
I as well, Babalu by decapitation. Send this underachieving kid home to Cameroon!
great fight. i say renato by tko, soko gasing out in the 2nd
I’m going Babalu as well, the only chance Soko might have would be an early KO but if that doesn’t happen he’s going to sleep. Job’s keeping me busy kev, I get there between 530 and 6 and get off between 4 and 6. No time for gym at night and was worried I’d oversleep when I stayed up to watch the fights last night. They’re sending me to D.C. all next week for good ‘ol fashioned corporate training. If only I didn’t have to go to bed by 10, I’d get to enjoy the scene there (bars).
Since you are big on spelling I thought I would help you out. Sokoudjou.
This fight is made for babalu if he shoots for doubles or singles. If he’s on the outside, Sok has more than enough power to snuff him out. But this news means my boy Lil Nog can clean up all his losses on his record.
I got Babalu too.
ha do i feel lonely… soko’s gettin’ a “w”
Two UFC cast aways!. Booooooooooooooring!.
Bill S. Preston Esq.
a fight is a fight….. doesn’t matter where they fight at are where they are from.And I am considere a “UFC nuthugger”?! All I want are interesting bouts….I can find entertainment in any realm of mma. Just so happens that Ufc is on top and will continue to stay that way.
LMFAO, did you google it? too funny
Yea cause as we all know if you aren’t in the UFC then your a no talent bum!!!
Not true…Have you heard of Fedor?
Fedor?? never heard of him!!
Sarcasm ever heard of it???
Soko vs a Brazilian in a ring = ko
Machida.
He fought Machida in a cage.
YES!! soko back in action
I actually think this adds something to the card, IMO.
im taking soko by 1st rond Ko for the upset!
Babalu will weather Soko’s initial storm of punches and kicks, Soko will gas, and Babalu will either submit him or tko him in the 2nd, just like Machida and Cane did.
as long as babalu doesn’t rush him, he’ll win
Pretty sick fight! This is a must win for Soko, but if it hits the ground its over. I can see Soko winning this fight, but he’ll have to end it fast and I hope he does.
Soko’s still young and has a bright future but if he keeps taking beatings like he has in the UFC he might not be around for long. Shit and I used to think he was gonna be the man to take over the p4p rank from Fedor…. shows how much I know.
he has a great future but he keeps fighting guys with so much experience, makes it hard for him to get a couple wins going
Sadly another loss for sokoudjou.
Oh wow they put Nog and Vladimir on the undercard?
so hdnet can air it
This is an awesome fight. A win for either of these guys would be huge:
For Babalu, coz its a win over a fighter that was very recently considered a Top 10 LHW.
For Soko, coz its a win over a very experienced a dangerous fighter, who’s been in the ring/cage with the best fighters in the world and who has a pretty decent record.
I’d love to see both these guys back in he UFC. It’s a shame that they’re fighting each other for that potential opportunity, and not other fighters. Although, I don’t see Dana welcoming Babalu back anytime soon after that stunt with Heath.
good fight
Babalu is a stud. How many times does he fight a year again? 10 ?
Judokan?
Babalu by submission. The only hope for Soku was a matchup with Houston Alexander, which would have been an “immovable object meets an irresistible force” type of collision between two big one-dimensional punchers with poor cardio and limited experience.
This is a bad match for Sokoudjou, he has to start with less talented and experience fighters, babalu is going to run over him.
good fight
I wanna know if Ozzy is gonna play at the event. Or if any other performers have been rumored.
This wont be a good fight. Soko is getting finished in this battle.
We have the same old situation for Soko, if he cant catch Babalu straight away then he has no chance. Babalu by Submission in the Rd 1.
Babalu, Babalu, Babalu!!!
I have to go with Babalu. Cause Soko has a really empty tank every time I see him. Babalu has more experience and seems more versatile. Soko has decent stand up but is still developing, Babalu by sub or tko 2nd round
Hahaha Tne Negation you suck! Sarcasm hahahahaha, you were overthrowed by a newbie poster hahahaha
Another newbie fan…