Douglas Lima was faced with a lack of action from Rory MacDonald early at Bellator 232. But displaying improved takedown defense and pinpoint accuracy, Lima got stronger as the night wore on, winning the welterweight grand prix.
After over a year, and two hard-fought battles each, the seemingly inevitable second clash between Rory MacDonald and Douglas Lima was upon us Saturday. When the welterweight grand prix began, MacDonald and Lima were the top picks to win it all. At Bellator 232 at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, one of them would do just that.
MacDonald and Lima circled early, with Rory staying on the outside. He was constantly moving, and for good reason: Lima had decimated his leg in their first fight. Lima, adjusting, fired kicks to the body; MacDonald feigned a level change, and came over the top with a punch. The next takedown attempt for MacDonald was much more pointed, and he drove Lima back to the cage. Lima however, stayed standing, forcing Rory to give up on the leg. Instead, he latched on with a body lock, working for a trip. But Lima showed excellent balance, taking advantage of the fence to stay standing.
The second round of five or less had Lima at center, while MacDonald stayed on his bicycle, circling and changing stances. He flashed a kick, threw something of a backhand punch, but was mostly looking to avoid Lima’s kicks, and find a way inside. Lima, however, would connect to MacDonald’s calf a couple of times. Lima was firing single strikes, at least in part because MacDonald wasn’t engaging. However, MacDonald did change levels under a Lima attack, looking for a takedown, which was stuffed. What felt like a full minute passed with nary a strike, until Rory fired a jab. Lima would land a right, partially blocked by the champ.
In the third, Lima once again held center. MacDonald shot early, Lima stuffed the attempt, and MacDonald fired a kick to the body. Another single-leg attempt by MacDonald was fought off, Lima hopping back to the fence, plastering the champ with short, quick punches. Lima’s jab was hitting the mark, and he was able to fight off a clinch attempt by MacDonald. Lima then connected to MacDonald’s calf again. Another shot attempted by the champ, another takedown stuffed by the challenger.
Continually seeing his effort to get the fight down stuffed, MacDonald was altering the game plan. He fired off more kicks, but Lima was winning both the kicking and boxing battles. Heading into the fourth, Lima was likely up on the scorecards. But it was the challenger coming out and landing first. And despite Lima having less success with his leg kicks compared to their first fight, Rory’s movement appeared effected.
A wild takedown attempt by the champ was stuffed yet again, and Lima fired a punch in response. Another shot, and MacDonald slipped, and had to dodge a punch. MacDonald sat back in guard, only to eat a kick there. He scrambled up, forced to block a high kick as he did. He tied up Lima, getting underhooks in. MacDonald couldn’t get the fight down, however, and fanned on a spinning back fist. With the crowd chanting for Lima, MacDonald was not seeing much of anything go his way.
Things are heating up here in the fifth and final round between @Rory_MacDonald and @PhenomLima!
⁰#Bellator232 #WelterweightWGP pic.twitter.com/a6rHqv2gE7
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) October 27, 2019
MacDonald need to make something happen in the final round. Instead, his head snapped back early from another Lima jab. This time, however, Rory got the takedown — but Lima quickly reversed, getting on top. Lima’s nose, however, was bloodied. MacDonald locked in a high closed guard, perhaps looking for a triangle or arm-bar. It was the latter, but Lima slammed out. A second attempt saw MacDonald give up his back. A leg lock attempt was short lived, and as Lima moved up, MacDonald fired an upkick. Lima then moved back into guard, time ticking away. MacDonald would reverse with a minute remaining, with Lima answering with a leg lock attempt of his own. MacDonald worked in some frantic ground n’ pound, finishing in control, after trailing much of the fight.
There was no surprise when the winner was announced: Douglas Lima was once again the Bellator MMA welterweight champion. Winning the grand prix, and a million dollars, in the process.
“I didn’t put as much pressure as I should have,” MacDonald admitted post-fight. “I’m not going to sit here and have a heavy face. I have so much to be grateful for.” A decisive win for Lima will eliminate any talk of a trilogy fight for now. Lorenz Larkin, meanwhile, is likely to be the first challenger for newly crowned Douglas Lima.
Official Result: Douglas Lima def. Rory MacDonald by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45)
