Strikeforce: Los Angeles Results - Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral Outlasts Robbie Lawler

In the Strikeforce: Los Angeles main event Renato “Babalu” Sobral was able to outwork Robbie Lawler over three rounds to take a unanimous decision win.

Coming into the fight if one was told that the bout would be contested almost entirely standing it would have to be Lawler that would be favored to win the bout. However, Sobral found ways to use his bigger size to land kicks and knees to the body and legs throughout the fight while also occasionally mixing in punches to Lawler’s face. The few times that the fight went to the ground it was via a Sobral takedown.

There were moments in the fight where Lawler pushed forward and let his hands go. During those periods he was able to land punches and force “Babalu” to go backward. It was clear that he would have to be able to do it with consistency to take the win, but it just didn’t look like he had the gas to get it done.

In the end all three judges scored the bout 29-28 for Renato Sobral.

The winner of the fight was set to get a title shot. However, Babalu said that he will not fight current light heavyweight champion “King” Mo Lawal due to their friendship and requested a bout with Dan Henderson instead. It’s odd to think that Strikeforce even put the title stipulation out there knowing Mo and Sobral’s history so we will have to see what the promotion decides to do with the rather murky situation.