Bellator champion Douglas Lima targets early 2015 return

Douglas Lima has yet to defend his welterweight championship, and he expects to do it early next year.

“The Phenom”, who won the vacant 170-pound title with a second-round TKO victory over Rick Hawn in April, is currently dealing with small injuries and won’t be able to put his title on the line in 2014.

“I think I will only fight again in January or February,” Lima told MMAFighting.com.

Lima, a two-time welterweight tournament winner in Bellator, is currently riding a five-fight winning streak, all via KO or TKO.

Andrey Koreshkov, winner of the last season’s 170-pound tournament, could be next for Lima when he returns. “Spartan” is 17-1 in his MMA career with an 8-1 record under the Bellator banner.

According to a Bellator official, Koreshkov “has earned that title shot with the tournament victory, and will absolutely get that opportunity” despite the recent changes at Bellator, with the end of the tournament system.

Douglas Lima has yet to defend his welterweight championship, and he expects to do it early next year.

“The Phenom”, who won the vacant 170-pound title with a second-round TKO victory over Rick Hawn in April, is currently dealing with small injuries and won’t be able to put his title on the line in 2014.

“I think I will only fight again in January or February,” Lima told MMAFighting.com.

Lima, a two-time welterweight tournament winner in Bellator, is currently riding a five-fight winning streak, all via KO or TKO.

Andrey Koreshkov, winner of the last season’s 170-pound tournament, could be next for Lima when he returns. “Spartan” is 17-1 in his MMA career with an 8-1 record under the Bellator banner.

According to a Bellator official, Koreshkov “has earned that title shot with the tournament victory, and will absolutely get that opportunity” despite the recent changes at Bellator, with the end of the tournament system.