Renato Sobral da Cunha
Instructor and ranked competitor representing Babalu’s Iron Gym.
Associations
No major titles recorded yet for this athlete.
Renato "Babalu" Sobral leads the instruction at Babalu's Iron Gym in Cerritos, where the programs cover Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and fitness. Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1975, he began Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at fifteen and earned his black belt in 1998 under Carlos Gracie Jr., going on to compete in submission grappling and jiu-jitsu tournaments. Sobral's mixed martial arts career took off in the early 2000s and spanned more than two decades, with fights in the UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator and wins over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Jeremy Horn and Robbie Lawler. As an instructor he emphasizes technique, discipline and self-improvement, aiming to give students a solid foundation in jiu-jitsu and submission grappling along with a lasting appreciation for the sport.