douglas lima 2016 | bellator
Bellator 232: “MacDonald vs. Lima 2” comes to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., later this evening (Sat., Oct. 26, 2019), streaming live online via DAZN. The first meeting between Rory MacDonald and Douglas Lima crowned a new champion. Will their rematch in the finals of the Welterweight Grand Prix do the same?
Let’s break it down:
170 lbs.: Rory MacDonald (21-5-1) vs. Douglas Lima (31-7)
The comments section of any MMA website, particularly our very own, is not kind to “The Red King” Rory MacDonald after his recent performances in Bellator MMA. A lackluster draw with Jon Fitch and a unanimous decision against Neiman Gracie have people calling him “washed up” and “done” as a fighter. It doesn’t help that after the Fitch fight MacDonald himself said he “doesn’t have the heart” to hurt people any more. The man who was once considered one of the pound-for-pound best in the world now has to prove he even belongs in the cage, which is a very strange position for a world champion to be in.
Former champion Douglas Lima has all the momentum coming in. He submitted long-time rival Andrey Koreshkov in the opening round, then knocked out the previously undefeated MVP in the semifinals. At 6’1” with a 74.5” reach, he’s the perfect size opponent for the 6’0”, 76” reach MacDonald. Despite that MacDonald still got the better of him in their first meeting. Lima might have the harder punch, the better wrestling, but MacDonald has always vowed he’s the “best all around” and in their last meeting he proved it. Now that the rematch has arrived it’s time for Lima’s hard work to earn this fight to pay off by showing a fading MacDonald everything he didn’t in their first meeting.
Final prediction: Douglas Lima via third round technical knockout
175 lbs.: Paul Daley (41-17-2) vs. Saad Awad (23-12)
Every time it seems like it might be time for “Semtex” to hang it up, Paul Daley pulls out another win and keeps his name in the mix. You have to credit his resilience and durability over an extensive career with 60 professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fights and two dozen kickboxing bouts. Even though Saad Awad is a powerful striker with a bionic left hand, he probably doesn’t want to stand in a phone both with a man who finishes 74 percent of his wins (30 of 41) via knockout. I can’t credit Awad as being a striker on Daley’s level despite having 10 knockouts in 23 wins (43 percent) because he has one-third the amount of finishes via strikes that his opponent does.
Final prediction: Paul Daley via knockout in round one
135 lbs.: Patrick Mix (11-0) vs. Isaiah Chapman (7-3)
Patrick Mix had a white hot reputation before his first Bellator fight, and he followed up on it by submitting Ricky Bandejas in just over a minute to earn a main card bout this time out. This will be another test to see if Mix lives up to the hype. Chapman was brought in as a late replacement opponent off a win over Robert Walker III … in 2017. Before that he only averaged one fight every 18 months and lost both of them. Suffice it to say it’s pretty clear Mix should pass this test with flying colors.
Final prediction: Patrick Mix via rear naked choke in the second round
160 lbs.: Nick Newell (16-2) vs. Manny Muro (7-6)
Nick Newell is a better fighter with one arm than most athletes are with two. Fact. Manny Muro is only one win over the Mendoza line. Fact. Newell hails from Milford, Connecticut and this fight takes place in Uncasville, Connecticut. Fact. What more needs to be said?
Final prediction: Nick Newell via first round submission
160 lbs.: Kevin Ferguson Jr. (3-2) vs. Craig Campbell (2-3)
“Baby Slice” has had his ups and downs in his pro MMA career to date. He famously submitted in his Bellator debut, reeled off three straight finishes between 2017 and 2018, then gassed out in a fight last October that he was winning and got TKO’d. They’re giving him his best chance to rebound from that loss with a full year to improve out of the spotlight, facing an opponent who has lost two of his last three bouts and hasn’t taken a fight on the pro circuit since 2017. Unless Ferguson gases out again he should do well.
Final prediction: Kevin Ferguson Jr. via technical knockout
That’s a wrap!
MMAmania.com will deliver coverage of Bellator 232 tonight with a main card at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount Network and DAZN, with “Prelims” undercard bouts starting at 7 p.m. ET. To check out the latest Bellator MMA-related news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive news archive right here.