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Former UFC Title contender and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato "Babalu" Sobral has signed a multi-fight deal with DREAM and will be a part of an upcoming DREAM light heavyweight tournament, according to a report from MMAJunkie.com.
The tournament is set to begin at DREAM 15 on May 30th, and Sobral's bout will mark his first in Japan since 2001. No first round opponent is set as of yet.
According to the report, the tournament will take place over seven events throughout the year, and could feature either eight or ten fighters. Sobral may get a chance to avenge his last loss in this tournament, as the man that took his Strikeforce belt, Gegard Mousasi, will also compete in this tournament.
Both enter with the blessing of Strikeforce, and while Sobral will take this first fight here in May, he's expecting to return to Strikeforce for a bout late in the summer.
Penick's Analysis: Babalu hasn't fought since that August loss to Mousasi, so I'm excited to see him back come May to see what he can do in this tournament. It depends on the fighters that are involved in the tournament, of course, but Sobral could make a deep run if he's not matched up with Mousasi again right off the bat. If they both work towards a rematch in the finals of this tournament it will make for a hell of light heavyweight rematch outside of the UFC. Hopefully DREAM is able to bring in some more top flight light heavyweights for this tournament as well.
FYI: Sobral's last fight in Japan came at a RINGS event, where he lost a decision to Fedor Emelianenko.
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