Retired MMA fighter and BJJ black belt Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral has competed twice at Metamoris.
He fought Dean Lister to a draw at Metamoris 3, and fought Chael Sonnen for another draw at Metamoris 6 on May 6 2015.
Babalu told MMA Fighting that he also hasn’t been paid yet for his Sonnen bout, more than one year later. He joins the rising number of Metamoris competitors to have publicly criticised the organisation due to non payment: AJ Agazarm, Joe Lauzon, Marcel Goncalves…
“I think (Metamoris founder Ralek Gracie) started great, helping jiu-jitsu and grappling grow with awesome matches, creating a great platform for athletes, but he wasn’t correct by not paying even with contracts signed. He could have done the same event even without paying anyone, just don’t promise anything. People pay to compete in (jiu-jitsu) tournaments, but when you promise something and don’t do it, you’re acting like a swindler, don’t you agree?
“I think he has good intentions, but my grandmother always said that hell is full of good intentions. He rose, and he drowned. With all due respect to him and his family, he made a huge mistake. I don’t recommend anyone to fight there if you want money. Fight without expecting getting paid, like in any other tournament. I wish him luck, and I hope someday he gets to clean his reputation in the jiu-jitsu world because it’s not looking good.”
The headliner of Metamoris 7 is no more.
Marcus Buchecha was planned to face Roger Gracie in the rematch of their Metamoris 1 superfight, but last week, official news emerged that he will not be competing at the upcoming Metamoris 7 event. Both Buchecha and Roger Gracie confirmed that they will not participate in Metamoris.
The professional grappling promotion, Metamoris, and most notably its founder Ralek Gracie has been under fire for the past few months for various reasons.
Main ones:
-Scheduling events on the same weekend as EBI and the same day as Copa Podio
-Disrespecting Female Competitors
-Untrustworthy Online Site and Automatic Renewals
-Not paying Metamoris Challenger/Underground Competitors, and staff (Including Agazarm who is owed 2,000$ since August 2015).
It is now unsure if the event is still set for July 17th at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. Metamoris was hoping for the event to be able to repay its debts and keep the company affloat.
Remaining full Card:
GABRIEL GONZAGA vs. SATOSHI ISHI (Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo).
DILON DANNIS vs. GILBERT “DURINHO” BURNS
RALEK GRACIE vs. TIM SPRIGGS
YURI SIMOES vs. MATHEUS DINIZ
SECRET MATCH.
