Douglas Lima Reacts To Rory MacDonald Signing With PFL

Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima was “disappointed” to see Rory MacDonald leave the promotion. It was announced earlier today (Wednesday) that MacDonald had signed with Professional Fighters League (PFL) in an exclusive multifight deal. MacDonald was previously with Bellator for two years where he became the welterweight champion following a unanimous decision win over Lima […]

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Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima was “disappointed” to see Rory MacDonald leave the promotion.

It was announced earlier today (Wednesday) that MacDonald had signed with Professional Fighters League (PFL) in an exclusive multifight deal.

MacDonald was previously with Bellator for two years where he became the welterweight champion following a unanimous decision win over Lima back in January 2018. Lima would regain the title by outpointing “Red King” over five rounds in the final of the Bellator welterweight grand prix in October.

That fight was notably the last on MacDonald’s contract who expected to re-sign with Bellator. However, that wasn’t the case as he shocked the mixed martial arts world by signing with PFL.

Lima, for one, was disappointed and surprised, especially as he expected to have a trilogy fight with the Canadian:

“I’m a little bit disappointed,” Lima told MMA Junkie. “It definitely did surprise me. It was unexpected. We had a close first fight, second one was a little better, but not as exciting. I thought we were going to do the third fight. But whatever. I got the belt. That’s what I wanted. It wasn’t about revenge or anything. I just wanted my title.”

While a trilogy fight likely won’t happen for the foreseeable future, “The Phenom” will be keeping a close eye on MacDonald going forward:

“Good for him, I think he’s going to do good wherever he goes,” Lima added. “I’m sure he’s being very well taken care of. Being a champion in Bellator, and what he did in the UFC, I look forward to watching him there for sure.”

Were you also surprised to see MacDonald join PFL?

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Bellator Champion Douglas Lima Disappointed With Rory MacDonald’s PFL Signing

Douglas Lima admits he’s a bit surprised and disappointed that Rory MacDonald has left Bellator. Earlier today, ESPN’s Ariel Helwani was able to confirm that MacDonald signed with PFL. MacDonald’s Bellator contract ran out after his Grand Prix finals bout with Lima back in October. MacDonald had a six-fight stint under the Bellator banner and […]

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Bellator Champ Douglas Lima Wants Stiffer Competition For Michael Page

Douglas Lima knows Michael Page wants to avenge his lone career loss, but the Bellator welterweight champion wants to see more. Back in May, Lima and Page did battle in the semifinals of the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix. Lima handed “Ve…

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Michael Page Felt He Was More Dominant, Eyeing Douglas Lima Rematch

Bellator star Michael “Venom” Page wants a rematch with current welterweight champion Douglas Lima as soon as possible. The pair competed in the semifinal stage of the Bellator welterweight grand prix in May. It ended with Lima landing the highlight reel knockout finish to hand Page his first-ever professional defeat. Lima would go on to […]

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Bellator star Michael “Venom” Page wants a rematch with current welterweight champion Douglas Lima as soon as possible.

The pair competed in the semifinal stage of the Bellator welterweight grand prix in May. It ended with Lima landing the highlight reel knockout finish to hand Page his first-ever professional defeat.

Lima would go on to defeat Rory MacDonald in the finals to become a three-time Bellator welterweight champion. That result didn’t surprise Page one bit:

“I had already predicted him as being the winner, so it wasn’t a shock to me,” Page said on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s Eurobash podcast. “Out of everybody in the whole game of MMA, if I could have lost to anyone I’m glad it was him.

“I do respect him as a person and a martial artist. I’m happy for him and his family, it’s great, but I still want to take it back from him so I hope he’s enjoying it now.

Despite feeling he was the more dominant fighter against Lima, “MVP” learned a lot from the setback:

“I’ve taken a lot of positives from it,” he added. “I felt like I was in control the whole time. Fro, the start right up until the finish I felt like I was the more dominant one. I got in and out and I landed my shots. Obviously, I rocked him, and I think I just got a bit excited after that. His legs started to wobble and I messed up from there.

“I know for a fact that if I could keep that momentum going I’d be an even better fighter next time and I’m looking forward to it.”

Lima Open To Page Rematch

Page has since bounced back with a knockout win over Richard Kiely. He takes on Giovanni Melillo at Bellator London this weekend. With another win, the Briton is hoping to get his rematch with Lima.

Luckily for him, “The Phenom” is open to it:

“I want that immediately…as soon as possible, definitely in the new year,” Page said. “I’m just going to do what’s best for my career, so I want that rematch as soon as possible.

“… He’s already mentioned that he’d be happy to give me that rematch and I think that it’s great that he’s in that mind frame. We have mutual respect, so it’s all good.”

How do you think a rematch between Lima and Page goes?

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Bellator’s Douglas Lima Confident He Would Knock Out Kamaru Usman

Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima doubled down on his claims that he would beat UFC welterweight king Kamaru Usman. Lima regained the welterweight title following a dominant unanimous decision win over Rory MacDonald at Bellator 232 last month. In the process, he became a three-time Bellator champion with 11 wins in his last 13 outings. […]

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Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima doubled down on his claims that he would beat UFC welterweight king Kamaru Usman.

Lima regained the welterweight title following a dominant unanimous decision win over Rory MacDonald at Bellator 232 last month. In the process, he became a three-time Bellator champion with 11 wins in his last 13 outings.

Debates naturally came up afterward about who the best welterweight in the world was. Lima obviously believes he’s one of the best, but the fact that he’s being considered by many despite not being in the UFC is something that excites him:

“I consider myself one of the best,” Lima told MMA Fighting. “I’ll fight anyone in the division no matter where they are. I believe I’d beat any one of those guys (in the UFC). Rankings are complicated, anyone has their opinion, but seeing that many consider me the best excites me even more.”

If he got his way, “The Phenom” would face the best the UFC has to offer. So naturally, he would love to face Usman, who is yet to taste defeat with the promotion:

“The champion, no doubt,” Lima added of who he’d want to face. “I would choose the one who’s considered the best. Usman is really tough, has good wrestling, so I wouldn’t think twice before choosing him. It would be a big fight.

“He’s on a roll, (and) he’s breaking everyone, so it would be a good fight for me, even if his style doesn’t favor me. I had problems with wrestlers in the past, and he has good wrestling. But I’m evolving, (and) I’m feeling great. I don’t think too much about it, but it would be great if that happened.”

Lima previously claimed he was better than “The Nigerian Nightmare” and believes if that fight did come to fruition, it would only end in one way:

“A knockout, right? For sure,” Lima said. “I’d go for the knockout. He has knockout power, but he usually wins by decision. I believe we would eventually find that chin.”

Do you agree with Lima?

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Bellator Champion & Former Foe Feels Ben Askren Lost His Hunger

Ben Askren lacks the desire he once had, at least that’s what one Bellator champion thinks. Askren did battle with Demian Maia in the main event of UFC Singapore this past Saturday (Oct. 26). “Funky” wanted to rebound from a record-se…

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