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Douglas Lima

Brazilian mixed martial artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Douglas Lima
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For the Brazilian water polo player, see Douglas Lima (water polo).

Douglas Lima (born 5 January 1988) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions. He formerly competed for Bellator MMA, where he is a former three-time Bellator Welterweight Champion. He is also the former MFC Welterweight Champion. Lima and his younger brother, Dhiego, own and operate American Top Team - Team Lima in Duluth, Georgia.[2][4]

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Background

Lima was born and grew up initially in Aparecida de Goiânia, Brazil.[5] Douglas took interest in martial arts from Bruce Lee and Jean-Claude Van Damme movies, and started training capoeira.[5] In 2000, Lima moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his family, and eventually started training Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 14.[6] He graduated from Joseph Wheeler High School.[citation needed] He trained at American Top Team Atlanta with Roan Carneiro.[7][8]

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Mixed martial arts career

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Early career

Lima began his professional mixed martial arts career with decent success, soon compiling a record of 5–0.[7]

In February 2007, Lima faced the future Ultimate Fighter competitor Matt Brown for the ISCF (International Sport Combat Federation) Pro East Coast Welterweight Title. Brown dealt Lima his first professional loss[9] by defeating him via TKO due to punches in the second round.[7]

American Fight League

In May 2008, Lima had his first defense of the title against Brent Weedman. Weedman was reportedly brought in to the fight to showcase Lima's skills, as Weedman was expected to be an easy fight.[10] Weedman threatened early on with a triangle choke which was unsuccessful. Late in the second round, Weedman again caught Lima in a triangle choke, but transitioned to an armbar, which forced Lima to submit, giving Weedman the title.[10] Weedman would later go on to say "They brought me in because Douglas Lima would make a great champ for them. Now, it's my turn to step up. I feel good about the fact that I did a one-fight deal with them. We're going to talk a multi-fight contract now."[10] Following the loss, Lima never appeared for the AFL promotion again.[7]

World Extreme Cagefighting

Following another win via TKO, Lima joined World Extreme Cagefighting. His debut fight was scheduled to take place at WEC 39 against Justin Haskins.[11] However, Lima was forced to withdraw from the card while waiting on papers to arrive from the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.[1] Lima's WEC debut never transpired, as instead, he joined King of the Cage, where he faced another future Ultimate Fighter competitor in Charles Blanchard, losing by unanimous decision.[7]

Maximum Fighting Championship

In September 2010, Douglas Lima joined the Maximum Fighting Championship, facing off against Ryan Ford. In front of Ford's hometown fans, Lima was able to defeat Ford via armbar, early in the second round.[12]

With the win, Lima was given an MFC Welterweight title shot against Jesse Juarez at MFC 27.[13] Lima went on to defeat Juarez via armbar, midway through the final round.[14]

Lima then defended the title against Terry Martin at MFC 29, winning the fight via first-round TKO.[15]

Bellator Fighting Championships

In May 2011, it was announced that Lima had signed to fight for Bellator Fighting Championships.[16]

Lima entered into the Bellator Season 5 Welterweight Tournament.[17] He fought Steve Carl in the opening round held at Bellator 49 and won the fight via unanimous decision.[18] Lima fought Chris Lozano in the semifinals at Bellator 53 and won via KO in the second round.[19] In the finals held at Bellator 57, he claimed the tournament victory and earned a shot at the title by knocking out Ben Saunders in the second round.[20]

First title shot

Lima got his title shot against welterweight champion Ben Askren at Bellator 64 on April 6, 2012.[21] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[22]

Lima defeated Jacob Ortiz via head kick and knee at 4:50 of the third round at Bellator 79 on November 2, 2012.[23]

Bellator Season Eight tournament

Lima faced Russian MMA prospect Michail Tsarev in Season Eight Welterweight Tournament on January 24, 2013 at Bellator 86.[24] He won the fight via TKO due to leg strikes in round 2.[25] In the semi-finals, he was scheduled to face Brent Weedman, but ultimately Weedman suffered an injury and was replaced by Bryan Baker at Bellator 90 on February 21, 2013.[26] He won the fight via knock out in the first round.[27] He was expected to face Ben Saunders in a rematch in the tournament final at Bellator 93. However, Lima suffered a broken hand and the rematch was postponed, finally taking place at Bellator 100 on September 20, 2013.[28][29] Lima once again won in the second round, this time via a brutal head kick knockout.[30]

First Bellator Welterweight Championship reign

Lima faced judo olympian Rick Hawn at Bellator 117 on April 18, 2014, for the vacant Bellator Welterweight Championship.[31] After several knockdowns due to leg kicks, Lima won via TKO due to corner stoppage to win the vacant Bellator Welterweight Championship.[32]

Lima was scheduled to make his first title defense against Paul Daley on February 27, 2015 at Bellator 134.[33] However, in January, it was announced that Lima had pulled out of the fight due to injury.[34] Lima was replaced by fellow Brazilian André Santos.[35]

After 15 months away from the sport due to knee injuries, Lima returned to defend his title against Bellator Season Ten Welterweight tournament winner Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 140 on July 17, 2015.[36] He lost the fight and title by unanimous decision.[37]

Return to title contention and second reign

After nearly a year away from the sport, Lima returned to the Bellator cage to replace Josh Koscheck against Paul Daley at Bellator 158 on July 16, 2016.[38] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[39]

The win over Daley earned Lima a rematch against Bellator Welterweight Champion Andrey Koreshkov. The two met in the main event at Bellator 164 on November 10, 2016. Lima regained his title by winning by knockout in the third round.[40]

For the first defense of his second title reign, Lima faced Lorenz Larkin at Bellator NYC on June 24, 2017.[41] He won the fight via a unanimous decision (50–45, 48–47, and 48–47) to retain the Bellator welterweight championship.[42]

On September 6, 2017 Lima announced that he had signed a six-fight, two-year contract with Bellator.[43]

For the second defense of his title, Lima faced Rory MacDonald at Bellator 192 on January 20, 2018.[44] He lost the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision.[45]

2019 Bellator Welterweight GP and third reign

Lima faced Andrey Koreshkov in a third match as part of the opening round of the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix on September 29, 2018 at Bellator 206.[46] He won the fight via a rear-naked choke in the fifth round.[47]

In the tournament semifinals, Lima faced the undefeated Michael Page in the co-main event at Bellator 221 on May 11, 2019. Lima won the fight via knockout in round two.[48]

In the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix final, Lima challenged Rory MacDonald in a rematch for the welterweight title at Bellator 232 on October 26, 2019.[49] He won the fight by unanimous decision to become a three-time Bellator welterweight champion and the 2019 Welterweight Grand Prix winner, receiving the $1,000,000 prize.[50]

Attempt at middleweight championship

As the first fight of his new, multi-year contract, Lima was scheduled to face Gegard Mousasi for the vacant Bellator Middleweight World Championship at Bellator 242 on May 9, 2020.[51][52] However, it was later announced that Bellator 242 and Lima's fight against Mousasi were being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[53] Instead, Lima faced Mousasi on October 29 at Bellator 250.[54] Lima lost the fight via unanimous decision.[55]

In the first defense of his title in his third reign as Bellator Welterweight World Champion, Lima faced undefeated Yaroslav Amosov at Bellator 260 on June 11, 2021.[56] He lost the bout by unanimous decision.[57]

Losing streak

Lima faced Michael Page in a rematch on October 1, 2021 at Bellator 267.[58] He lost the bout via split decision.[59] 6 out of 7 media outlets scored the bout as a win for Lima.[60]

Lima was scheduled to face Jason Jackson on May 13, 2022 at Bellator 281.[61] However, for unknown reasons, the bout was pulled from the event and was rescheduled for July 22, 2022 at Bellator 283.[62][63] After the main event was scrapped and the reshuffling of the bouts, Lima vs. Jackson was upgraded to the main event and 5 rounds.[64] At the weigh-ins, Douglas Lima, came in at 172.8 lbs, 1.8 pounds heavy for his headlining welterweight bout. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and Lima was fined a percentage of his individual purse, which went to Jackson.[65] Lima lost the bout via unanimous decision, getting controlled on the ground for 5 rounds.[66]

Return to middleweight

Moving up to Middleweight once again, Lima faced Costello van Steenis on May 12, 2023 at Bellator 296.[67] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[68]

With one fight remaining on his prevailing contract, Lima signed a new multi-year contract with PFL after publicly scolding the organization for keeping him benched for over a year for allegedly too high purse.[69] As the first bout of his new contract, Lima faced Aaron Jeffery at Bellator Champions Series 4 on September 7, 2024.[70] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[71]

Global Fight League

On January 16, 2025, it was announced that he had left the promotion and signed with the Global Fight League.[72]

Lima was scheduled to face Uriah Hall on May 25, 2025 at GFL 2.[73] However, all GFL events were postponed indefinitely.[74]

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Professional grappling career

Lima competed against Rinat Fakhretdinov at ADXC 2 on January 19, 2024.[75] He lost the match by unanimous decision.[76]

Personal life

Lima and his wife have two daughters and a son.[6][77]

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
45 matches 33 wins 12 losses
By knockout 16 1
By submission 10 1
By decision 7 10
More information Res., Record ...

[7]

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See also

References

External links

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