‘Babalu’ looking to get belt back at Strikeforce

The rise of mixed martial arts isn’t confounding to Renato “Babalu” Sobral, a Brazilian now residing in Costa Mesa who has hitched himself along for the sport’s decade-plus ride to mainstream awareness.

“At the end of the day, the human being likes watching violence,” Sobral, 34, said this week while concluding preparations for Wednesday night’s Strikeforce 195-pound catch-weight main event against Robbie Lawler at downtown Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre.

Showtime will televise the card between the organization’s former light-heavyweight champion Sobral (35-8) and former Elite Xtreme Combat middleweight champ Lawler (19-5). Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has promised the winner will get a title shot, with Sobral’s being at his former training partner Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal.

Sobral’s edge will be his ability to call upon the wealth of his MMA experiences, and some newfound striking instruction to complement his jujitsu and wrestling abilities.

“Even though Lawler expects ‘Babalu’ to take him down, [Sobral’s] hands are way better than they’ve ever been, and he can knock Lawler out with those four-ounce gloves,” said Justin Fortune, Sobral’s boxing trainer in Hollywood.

In a pro fighting career that dates to 1999, Sobral has endured decision losses to heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko and former Ultimate Fighting Championship title challenger Dan Henderson. He earned a title shot against then-UFC light-heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell in 2006 (losing by technical knockout) and he has defeated the likes of current UFC light-heavyweight champ Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen.

Sobral was in danger of not being seen again in 2007 when he was kicked out of the UFC and docked $25,000 of his purse by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for failing to release a winning chokehold against UFC 74 opponent David Heath.

“Of course I have regrets,” Sobral said. “I got my punishment and a fine. I feel bad about David Heath. I got caught up in the moment of the fight.”

Before allowing Sobral in Strikeforce, Coker said he had a lengthy, in-person meeting with the fighter and said he witnessed genuine remorse.

Sobral won the Strikeforce belt in 2008, but lost it in his most recent bout — a first-round KO loss to Gegard Mousasi in December. “I want to get back to winning,” Sobral said.

Other fights include a welterweight bout between Evangelista Santos and Marius Zaromskis and a middleweight pitting Army Special Forces veteran Tim Kennedy of San Luis Obispo vs. Trevor Prangley.

lance.pugmire@latimes.com