&t UFC Drops Fighter Following UFC 74 Incident (Updated Report) :: Headline Planet
Google H-Planet

UFC Drops Fighter Following UFC 74 Incident (Updated Report)
Story reported by of Headline Planet
Saturday, September 1 2007
The latest on UFC's decision to release one of its veteran fighters

WrestlingObserver.com reported Thursday afternoon that Renato "Babalu" Sobral has been released from his UFC contract.

UFC President Dana White confirmed the release to the mixed martial arts media earlier in the day.

The release appears entirely related to Sobral's incident at UFC 74. Sobral caught major heat for holding a choke on opponent David Heath for several seconds after Heath's submission had been officially recognized by the referee.

After eventually letting go of the hold, Sobral said in his post-fight interview that he kept the hold on Heath in order to teach his opponent respect. The two apparently had a nasty confrontation at the prior evening's weigh-ins.

"What he did was really bad," Dana White said to the media following the UFC 74 event. "I'm not sure what the commission will do, whether they fine him or suspend him. A lot of guys have a lot of emotion in the weigh-ins. But after you get done fighting, it's over."

Sobral was also fined half of his purse - $25,000 - for the incident.

Update:

At a hearing in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Sobral denied that he held the choke with malicious intent.

“When he tapped, I didn’t feel it. I then looked to the referee, and he shook my shoulder, and then I let him go. I didn’t understand why this whole thing happened. I’m kind of surprised that it happened, the crowd booing me and stuff like that. I don’t know, maybe it was from the blood. I don’t know. I would like to say sorry to David Heath and the UFC for bringing trouble to my sport that I love a lot. There’s one thing that I know how to do in my life is be a professional fighter. I don’t have like a regular job," Sobral said, according to an MMAWeekly.com report.

Executive director Keith Kizer said that although he believes there possibly was some intent, he said the incident pales in comparison to other issues the Athletic Commission has faced. He noted that he will not push for a suspension.

Babalu, nonetheless, has been officially released by the UFC.

News Options:
Full MMA Newsboard
Return to Headline Planet.com


View All News:Wrestling :: MMA :: Entertainment