Douglas Lima wants Bellator title with a knockout: ‘I hate decisions’

Tournament winners Douglas Lima and Rick Hawn will battle for the vacant welterweight title at Bellator 117 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on April 18, and the Brazilian plans to finish it in devastating fashion.

Lima won his second welterweight tournament in Bellator with three brutal knockouts over Ben Saunders, Bryan Baker and Michail Tsarev, and plans to do the same against Hawn.

“That’s what goes through my mind every day,” Lima told MMAFighting.com. “I always try to finish the fight and I’m going for it one more time, especially that there’s a title on the line. Finishing is really important for me, I hate decisions.”

Hawn has never been knocked out in his 20-fight MMA career, and Lima knows that the title won’t come in an easy way.

“Hawn is really tough,” he said. “He has a good boxing game and judo, but I’m ready for everything. I can’t wait to get in there and fight him. I think he will try to fight me standing and then will go for the takedown. For me, it’s going to be an explosive fight and I’ll try to finish it in every opportunity I have.”

The Brazilian has suffered injuries in both hands in the past, but feels perfect heading into the title fight.

“My camp was 100 percent and I’m feeling great,” Lima said. “I’m ready for another war. My hand is good now. I hope I won’t break it again in the fight, but I will punch with everything I got.”

Lima and Hawn both earned title shots in the past but failed to become champions. The Brazilian suffered a unanimous decision loss against Ben Askren in 2012, while Hawn tapped to a rear-naked choke against Michael Chandler in 2013.

“It’s everything to me at this moment,” Lima said about winning the welterweight title. “I failed in my first attempt and I’m coming with everything to win. It’s going to be important for my career and will open doors for a lot of good opportunities for me, so I’ll do my best to win this title. I can’t stop thinking about becoming champion.”

Akren was the only fighter to defend the Bellator gold four times, and Lima wants to break that record.

“My plan is to win the title and defend it forever,” he said. “I want to finish them all. This is my fighting style and will always be. Nothing is easy but I train hard and believe in me and in my team.”

Tournament winners Douglas Lima and Rick Hawn will battle for the vacant welterweight title at Bellator 117 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on April 18, and the Brazilian plans to finish it in devastating fashion.

Lima won his second welterweight tournament in Bellator with three brutal knockouts over Ben Saunders, Bryan Baker and Michail Tsarev, and plans to do the same against Hawn.

“That’s what goes through my mind every day,” Lima told MMAFighting.com. “I always try to finish the fight and I’m going for it one more time, especially that there’s a title on the line. Finishing is really important for me, I hate decisions.”

Hawn has never been knocked out in his 20-fight MMA career, and Lima knows that the title won’t come in an easy way.

“Hawn is really tough,” he said. “He has a good boxing game and judo, but I’m ready for everything. I can’t wait to get in there and fight him. I think he will try to fight me standing and then will go for the takedown. For me, it’s going to be an explosive fight and I’ll try to finish it in every opportunity I have.”

The Brazilian has suffered injuries in both hands in the past, but feels perfect heading into the title fight.

“My camp was 100 percent and I’m feeling great,” Lima said. “I’m ready for another war. My hand is good now. I hope I won’t break it again in the fight, but I will punch with everything I got.”

Lima and Hawn both earned title shots in the past but failed to become champions. The Brazilian suffered a unanimous decision loss against Ben Askren in 2012, while Hawn tapped to a rear-naked choke against Michael Chandler in 2013.

“It’s everything to me at this moment,” Lima said about winning the welterweight title. “I failed in my first attempt and I’m coming with everything to win. It’s going to be important for my career and will open doors for a lot of good opportunities for me, so I’ll do my best to win this title. I can’t stop thinking about becoming champion.”

Akren was the only fighter to defend the Bellator gold four times, and Lima wants to break that record.

“My plan is to win the title and defend it forever,” he said. “I want to finish them all. This is my fighting style and will always be. Nothing is easy but I train hard and believe in me and in my team.”