The date is set for Rory MacDonald and Douglas Lima’s second engagement, this time in the finale of the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix.
On Thursday, MMA Fighting cited Bellator MMA President Scott Coker when reporting that the duo would meet for the second time on October 26. The pair is expected to headline the card, which will take place at the Mohegan Sun Arena, and serve as both the grand prix final, and a divisional title fight, as Rory MacDonald remains Bellator’s welterweight champion.
The grand prix also has a million dollars on the line, raising the stakes for what is one of the most anticipated rematches in Bellator history. MacDonald (21–5–1), a former UFC standout, won the title from Lima in January 2018, and has defended it twice during the promotion’s year-long grand prix tournament. The first was a draw (with MacDonald retaining the belt as champ) against Jon Fitch in April, which was followed by a more decisive win against BJJ ace Neiman Gracie in June.
Both fights went the distance. Overall, MacDonald is 3-1-1 in Bellator, with the lone loss being a middleweight title shot against then-champ Gegard Mousasi.
Lima (31–7) has won two fights since dropping the belt to MacDonald in their first meeting, both as part of the welterweight grand prix. Both fights have been finishes, a rear-naked choke of fellow ex-title holder Andrey Koreshkov, and a knockout of Michael ‘Venom’ Page.
In his reign as champ, Lima defended the belt once, against Lorenz Larkin. He has consistently remained one of Bellator’s most underrated yet successful homegrown talents, alongside the likes of Michael Chandler and the Pitbull Brothers.
