Douglas Lima Looks to Prove He’s One of the Pound For Pound Best Against Rory MacDonald

In just two weeks, one of the biggest fights in Bellator history will go down to determine if Douglas Lima keeps his welterweight title, or if UFC transplant Rory MacDonald fulfills capturing the hold that alluded him in his previous organization. As the bell time draws closer and closer, MacDonald revealed some of the violent plans he has in mind for not just Lima, but for Bellator itself. Douglas Limas, who thinks MacDonald is a little too overconfident, has his own plans of proving he’s one of the very best in the world whether he’s in the UFC or not.

“It’s the fight I wanted. [Rory MacDonald]’s a tough guy but no big deal. To me, he’s an opponent like any other. He’s got his strengths. He’s been in many wars, but after the first hand lands, he’ll change his plan, for sure. He’s very sure of himself. He’s saying he’s one step ahead of everyone in the division, right? But let him be. He’s very confident, and that will change as soon as the first hand connects.”

We kick-off 2018 with the Welterweight World Title and the Heavyweight World Grand Prix’s opening round LIVE & FREE on @paramountnet 1.20.18

Lima vs MacDonald
Rampage vs Sonnen#Bellator192 pic.twitter.com/c7KhNTXBIP

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) January 1, 2018

“I’m healthy and injury-free and that is a win in itself because I’ve been training since I beat [Lorenz] Larkin. I was expecting to fight Rory in November. I was ready, but they scheduled it for January. So I’m about this: I have no injuries, I’ve been training nonstop, improving on what I can. Let’s go. Let’s get this guy, let’s knock this guy out to prove to everyone that I belong in the top five.” — Douglas Lima speaking to MMA Junkie.

For a long time, whether the argument is valid or not, Bellator has been looked at by some critics as the B-league to the UFC. However, Rory MacDonald didn’t leave the UFC on some sort of bad skid. In his last five fights — including victories over Demian Maia and current UFC weltweight champion Tyron Woodley — he’s only lost twice and one of those was to then-champ Robbie Lawler. If Douglas Lima manages to beat MacDonald, he removes all doubt as one of the top five welterweights in the world. On the contrary, if MacDonald wins, not only does he get the title but affirms what we already know: That he’s a badass.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 1/5/2018.