Bellator champ Douglas Lima open to kickboxing fight with Paul Daley at Dynamite

After taking a year off due to injuries, Douglas Lima wants to take back-to-back fights.

Lima returns to the Bellator cage on July 17 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, putting his welterweight title on the line against tournament winner Andrey Koreshkov, and doesn’t think the series of injuries will affect his performance at Bellator 140.

“I’m finally free of injuries,” Lima told MMAFighting.com. “I spent a whole year taking care of injuries, but I’m 100 percent now. My weight is good, training went perfect. I’m ready to brawl with this Russian in there.

“I had an infection and underwent three knee surgeries that kept me sidelined for a long time, but I feel great now. I feel like none of this ever happened. I will defend this title. Nothing will stop me from performing like I always do.”

Winner of nine of his 10 Bellator fights, Koreshkov earned a shot at the gold after going 3-0 in 2014, and Lima expects his opponent to stand and bang on July 17.

“He’s a good striker, fast, but that’s it. To me, it’s a normal fight. I’ve fought many guys like him before,” he said. “I’m way stronger than, and I have more experience. I don’t see him as a bigger challenge. It’s just a fight like every other one. I plan on finishing him, by knockout or submission. I will go straight forward. I respect him, he’s a good fighter, but it’s my time.”

Lima and Koreshkov have a combined record of 22 knockouts in 43 professional victories, but the Brazilian wouldn’t be surprised if “Spartan” decided to go for takedowns in his second Bellator title fight.

“I’ve watched him fight before and sometimes he goes for takedowns, but he prefers to stand. Maybe he will try to trade punches with me, but I don’t know. When he feels my hands, he will change plans,” Lima said. “I’m ready. I know he’s dangerous and I don’t underestimate him, but I’m confident. Whatever he brings, I will be ready.

“I want to finish him as fast as possible, but I’m ready to brawl for five rounds if I have to. The idea is to finish this fight. I don’t want to leave it to the judges. No way.”

Gunning for a quick turnaround, Lima hopes to be back in action on Sept. 19, when Bellator promotes the Dynamite card with a MMA cage and a Glory kickboxing ring at the SAP Center in San Jose, California.

“If I’m 100 percent, I want to fight at that card,” Lima said. “If there’s room for me, I want to be there. I haven’t fought in a while, so I want to stay active. If I’m injury-free, I will ask for a fight there.”

The MMA portion of the Dynamite will include a one-night light heavyweight tournament featuring Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Emanuel Newton, Linton Vassell and Phil Davis, while 205-pound champion Liam McGeary puts his title on the line against Tito Ortiz.

If Bellator president Scott Coker can’t put Lima to defend his Bellator title on Sept. 19, he’s willing to fight inside the Glory ring.

“I would do it, for sure. I always wanted to fight at Glory,” he said. “I’ve fought before in an amateur muay thai bout when I started fighting MMA, and I won by knockout. I love muay thai and I would love to fight there. If they gave me an opportunity, I would accept it right away, but I’m focused on this fight first.”

Welterweight contender Paul Daley, also set to fight at Bellator 140 against Dennis Olson, is booked to compete under kickboxing rules at Dynamite, and Lima would take the fight in a heartbeat.

“I don’t every run away from fights,” Lima said. “I know he’s a muay thai fighter with more than 30 fights in his record, but I would immediately accept this offer. No doubt about it. I would prefer to do this fight under MMA rules, it’s my game, but I would take this fight anywhere.”

After taking a year off due to injuries, Douglas Lima wants to take back-to-back fights.

Lima returns to the Bellator cage on July 17 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, putting his welterweight title on the line against tournament winner Andrey Koreshkov, and doesn’t think the series of injuries will affect his performance at Bellator 140.

“I’m finally free of injuries,” Lima told MMAFighting.com. “I spent a whole year taking care of injuries, but I’m 100 percent now. My weight is good, training went perfect. I’m ready to brawl with this Russian in there.

“I had an infection and underwent three knee surgeries that kept me sidelined for a long time, but I feel great now. I feel like none of this ever happened. I will defend this title. Nothing will stop me from performing like I always do.”

Winner of nine of his 10 Bellator fights, Koreshkov earned a shot at the gold after going 3-0 in 2014, and Lima expects his opponent to stand and bang on July 17.

“He’s a good striker, fast, but that’s it. To me, it’s a normal fight. I’ve fought many guys like him before,” he said. “I’m way stronger than, and I have more experience. I don’t see him as a bigger challenge. It’s just a fight like every other one. I plan on finishing him, by knockout or submission. I will go straight forward. I respect him, he’s a good fighter, but it’s my time.”

Lima and Koreshkov have a combined record of 22 knockouts in 43 professional victories, but the Brazilian wouldn’t be surprised if “Spartan” decided to go for takedowns in his second Bellator title fight.

“I’ve watched him fight before and sometimes he goes for takedowns, but he prefers to stand. Maybe he will try to trade punches with me, but I don’t know. When he feels my hands, he will change plans,” Lima said. “I’m ready. I know he’s dangerous and I don’t underestimate him, but I’m confident. Whatever he brings, I will be ready.

“I want to finish him as fast as possible, but I’m ready to brawl for five rounds if I have to. The idea is to finish this fight. I don’t want to leave it to the judges. No way.”

Gunning for a quick turnaround, Lima hopes to be back in action on Sept. 19, when Bellator promotes the Dynamite card with a MMA cage and a Glory kickboxing ring at the SAP Center in San Jose, California.

“If I’m 100 percent, I want to fight at that card,” Lima said. “If there’s room for me, I want to be there. I haven’t fought in a while, so I want to stay active. If I’m injury-free, I will ask for a fight there.”

The MMA portion of the Dynamite will include a one-night light heavyweight tournament featuring Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Emanuel Newton, Linton Vassell and Phil Davis, while 205-pound champion Liam McGeary puts his title on the line against Tito Ortiz.

If Bellator president Scott Coker can’t put Lima to defend his Bellator title on Sept. 19, he’s willing to fight inside the Glory ring.

“I would do it, for sure. I always wanted to fight at Glory,” he said. “I’ve fought before in an amateur muay thai bout when I started fighting MMA, and I won by knockout. I love muay thai and I would love to fight there. If they gave me an opportunity, I would accept it right away, but I’m focused on this fight first.”

Welterweight contender Paul Daley, also set to fight at Bellator 140 against Dennis Olson, is booked to compete under kickboxing rules at Dynamite, and Lima would take the fight in a heartbeat.

“I don’t every run away from fights,” Lima said. “I know he’s a muay thai fighter with more than 30 fights in his record, but I would immediately accept this offer. No doubt about it. I would prefer to do this fight under MMA rules, it’s my game, but I would take this fight anywhere.”