Although a Tito Ortiz vs. Renato "Babalu" Sobral match has been widely expected at the October 11 Affliction: Day of Reckoning event, it clearly isn't happening. Ortiz still hasn't signed his long-awaited Affliction contract, and now Babalu has agreed to fight for Strikeforce.Strikeforce announced today that Babalu will challenge its light heavyweight champ, Bobby Southworth, at the Playboy Mansion on Saturday, September 20, and Strikeforce VP Mike Afromowitz confirmed to me via e-mail that Babalu will not fight on the October 11 Affliction card.
Affliction's October 11 card has some solid fights on it, but it's almost certain to be a money loser, and the inability to close the deal on the Babalu vs. Ortiz fight is a disappointment. Strikeforce doesn't spend the kind of money on star power that Affliction does, but Strikeforce clearly has a better understanding of how to run an MMA business than Affliction.
Get the latest gear
