(photo courtesy of Sherdog.com)
Many fans won’t be too familiar with the first name of Maximum Fighting Championship’s latest rising star in the welterweight division, but most will certainly recognize the last name.
Dhiego Lima, younger brother too former MFC 170 lb champ and Season 5 Bellator tournament participant Douglas Lima, earned his sixth straight victory last Friday night to remain undefeated in his pro-career. Dhiego faced a very tough, and experienced opponent, in ‘The Ghost’ Jamie Toney on the live HDNet broadcast of MFC 30: Up Close & Personal in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Toney, who is undefeated in six bouts himself, looked to be outstriking the younger Lima in the opening round, but a late takedown proved his undoing. Dhiego was able to put Toney on his back and began dropping hammerfists to his opponents head from side control. The referee appeared to give Toney time to defend himself properly, but Dhiego proved to be too much forcing the ref to step in at 2:47 of the first.
“I felt good tonight, I wanted a quick finish. So thank God that I got it. I went in there expecting a three round war, but I always look for the finish. Thankfully I got it.”
Dhiego isn’t sure when he’ll fight next, he has several fights left on his contract with the MFC and will likely appear at the promotions September event.
“I don’t know (what’s next). I’ll do whatever my manager and Mark (Pavelich, the owner of the MFC) wants me to do. I’m going to keep training, and whatever happens, happens. I’ll keep training and take care of my family. Whenever they call me to fight, I’ll fight anybody, that’s the way it is.”
Dhiego is full of confidence when it comes to his brother Douglas’ chance of success in the upcoming fall Bellator Season five tournament.
“I think it is great. His chances are great (of winning the tournament). They have a bunch of tough fighters (in the tournament), but the level that he is and the mentality he has right now, he is going to win it all. I can tell you that.”
Afterwords Dhiego noted there would be little time to celebrate as he was back to his full time job on Sunday. The Ascension MMA and American Top Team product, who currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, hopes that his star will rise high enough so that one day he can make fighting his full time job instead of his part time one.
Fans have not seen the best that Dhiego Lima has to offer, as the 21-year old fighter noted that his future training camps would receive a big boost by the cooperation of camps coming together in Atlanta. One name joining Dhiego in the gym will be UFC middleweight Brian Stann, who will not doubt improve the skills of the young MFC welterweight.