Renato Babalu announces retirement after defeat at Bellator 96

Babalu (left) poses next to Bjorn Rebney, president of Bellator, when he was hired by the organization. Photo: Twitter/Reproduction

The career of one of the most respected fighters from the old guard of Brazilian MMA has come to an end. This Wednesday, light heavyweight Renato Babalu decided to end his career in professional MMA. Competing in the category's tournament at Bellator, the organization that welcomed him at the end of 2012, Babalu was knocked out by Jacob Noe and announced his retirement at the end of Bellator 96.

The 37-year-old from Rio began his career in 1997, a time when stomps and goal shots were widespread in MMA. He had a career of thirteen fights at RINGS, a Japanese event that preceded PRIDE, where he gained international notoriety by facing names like Fedor Emelianenko e Dan Henderson.

From Japan, Babalu shot the main events on the planet. He had ten fights in the UFC, where he fought for Chuck Liddell's light heavyweight belt, but ended up being knocked out by the American at UFC 62. He also worked for Affliction, an organization that was created to rival the UFC, but went bankrupt in the third edition, and won the Strikeforce belt by knocking out former TUF 1 Bobby Southworth in 2008. A year later, he lost the title to Gegard Mousasi, when its recent negative phase began.

Babalu has lost three of his last five fights, all by knockout. In fact, this was the method of all of the Brazilian's last seven defeats. In his last appearance, Bellator selected him to compete in his category's tournament twice in 2013. In the first one, in January, the Kings MMA fighter was knocked out by Mikhail Zayats. In the second, this Wednesday, the opponent was Noe.

“I wish I had been faster, I wish I had been stronger. But my body can't do that anymore”, declared Babalu at the press conference after Bellator 96. “I need to help the growth of this sport in another way”, concluded the now former fighter.

Throughout his career of almost 50 fights, Babalu had a record of 37-11, with 19 victories by submission and five by knockout. On the other hand, he was knocked out seven times and suffered only one defeat by submission, in the surprising fight against Valentijn Overeem, brother of alistair overeem. Along the way, Babalu collected victories over former UFC champion Maurice Smith, he was the first to win Mauricio Shogun, the first Brazilian to finish Chael Sonnen and even surpassed the former member of the American Olympic team in wrestling Mike van Arsdale.