Bellator 57 – Douglas Lima (L) and Ben Saunder’s (R) face-off at the weigh-ins
Bellator’s Season 8 welterweight final between Douglas ‘The Phenom’ Lima (24-5) and Ben ‘Killa B’ Saunders (16-5-2) appears to be on hold once again another reported injury to Lima.
According to Sherdog.com Lima has suffered torn cartilage in his ribs which has forced him out of a rescheduled bout with Saunders for end July at Bellator 97.
The two were to have met in the Season 8 final at Bellator 93 earlier this year but was cancelled after ‘The Phenom’ suffered a broken hand.
This match will mark the second time these two welterweights have met in a Bellator tournament final with Lima winning their first meeting back in November 2011. ‘The Phenom’ would stop his friend by knockout at Bellator 57 to claim the $100,000 check and a shot at the title.
Lima would go on to lose by decision to champ Ben Askren but has rattled off three straight wins since then. Two of those victories include Season 8 tournament wins with the first against Michail Tsarev by TKO at Bellator 86 and the second over Bryan Baker by KO at Bellator 90.
Saunders went on to compete in the Season 6 and now Season 8 welterweight tournaments since the loss to Lima. In Season 6 ‘Killa B’ was knocked out of the tournament in the semifinals after a decision loss Baker. Saunders is currently on a three-fight win streak which includes Season 8 tournament wins over Koffi Adzitso and Raul Amaya.