Fans of Bellator FC, fans of fast-paced, high-level striking showdowns, it is with great despair that I deliver the following news: Douglas Lima vs. Ben Saunders has been cancelled.
Well, not so much cancelled as pushed back. The contest, Bellator‘s latest Welterweight Grand Prix final, was originally slated for March 21, but is now expected to land sometime this summer.
Bjorn Rebney explained the delay via Twitter on Tuesday, March 5:
Lima earned his place in the tournament final with a pair of knockout wins over Michail Tsarev and Bryan Baker. His crushing KO punch against Baker is one that will be featured on his highlight reel for years to come.
Prior to entering Bellator‘s Season 8 170-pound tourney, Lima defeated Jacob Ortiz via TKO.
Like Lima, Saunders will also enter the bout riding a three-fight win streak. He destroyed Brian Warren with a 22 second knockout prior to joining the bracket, then reeled off a decision against Koffi Adzitso and a head-kick knockout over Raul Amaya.
It’s very unfortunate that the pairing will not share the cage until sometime this summer because this looks to be a heck of a match. Both guys are two of Bellator‘s best welterweight strikers, both enjoy throwing their feet as much as their hands and neither one of them is usually shy to do so.
All in all, it is an event worth waiting for, even if you’d rather not have had to.
When Saunders vs. Lima does happen it will mark the rematch of their 2011 showdown, which Lima won by way of second-round knockout.
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