Strikeforce’s former champion on the light heavyweight division, Renato Babalú Sobral will return to the octagon on June 16 against Robbie Lawler, former EliteXC champion. The Brazilian, who trains along with Fabrício Werdum and King Mo Lawal, on the TC of Affliction, took a time off the trainings to watch closely the World of Jiu-Jitsu, which is happening in California, and gave an exclusive interview to TATAME. The tough guy gave his opinion about the BJJ Worlds, analyzed his next fight on Strikeforce, talked about the fight between Werdum and Fedor, commented his win over Shogun, on 2003, and pointed him out as the favorite for this next fight against Rashad.

What are you thinking of Worlds?

It’s beautiful, the mat is great and the place, the gym is amazing, it is huge. I think it’s bets than that other Carlson’s place, the structure here is best, is best for the fighters and the audience. I came here to see the guys, on the brake between the trainings I talked with some friends, that are what we will carry with us when we stop fighting… The friendships I made will last a lifetime, I even crawl when I say this.

How are the trainings for your fight against Robbie Lawler and what do you expect for this fight?

I hope it’s a war, I always face my fights the same way… It can be an eyed guy or Fedor, I always face it the same way.  I have my game plan, he has his and he probably will try to knock me out and I’ll go for the submission, but if he’s not careful, I may knock him out. Today was my last day of hard training, I’ll fight on the until 88kg divisions and I got 90kg now and there’s ten days left before the fight… I’ll try to rest without having to worry much about my weight. I went for it on the last time and I’ll do my best on this one.

He was the champion on EliteXC and knocked Ninja out… Do you believe that if you beat him, it can put you in the line for a belt dispute on Strikeforce?

Actually, I’m changing to a lighter division and I intend to fight on the until 84kg division, but I can change my mind and go to a heavier division too, because I already fought among the heavies, middleweights and light heavyweights… I’m not that worried about the belt, wherever there’s a good fight for me, I’m in, because I have a good fighting record. As BJ Penn once said, the belt is only useful to keep your pants up. What make the sport are the challenges. I thank Robbie, who changed divisions to confront me, he could have said no, so we have to give him credits, because I have my bills to pay and I need to fight and he accepted and is coming with his best for this fight.

You are training with Werdum, who will confront Fedor, a guy you confronted. The Russian is so unanimous that people are cheering for him…

They don’t know things right, is the same thing as if you say that an England fan will cheer for the England team against the Brazilian team…. Who says these things don’t know anything… I train with Werdum and I can say that he has the potential to beat this guy and he will win this fight. You see the record and people saying things, but Werdum has all weapons to beat him, as Fedor also had. Fedor has a dangerous punch and Werdum is a submitter… It’s an AK 47 against a Fall, whoever shots first…

You submitted Shogun with a guillotine and now he is on the top of UFC. How do you see him nowadays?

He is a hell of an athlete and proved he can overcome. Last fight was his fight, everything depends if the fighter is on a good night. Many people said Werdum was done when he left UFC, right? When he beat Fedor, these same guys will say he is the best, but that’s how the fans are, they are the ones who pay the pay-per-views, buy magazines and access the internet. Nowadays the techniques are almost at the same level, it depends on who is best at that specific night. Is not because I beat Shogun that I’m better than him, today he is the champion of Ultimate. My night was that one, if we have a rematch, things might be different this time. I bet on Shogun over Rashad.