Another key welterweight fight has been added to May’s Bellator London card.
Already topped by a 170lb title fight between champ Yaroslav Amosov and Michael “Venom” Page, the event will also feature the #2 and #3 ranked welterweights in the promotion throwing down. That fight sees Douglas Lima (32-10) collide with Jason Jackson (15-4) — a match-up that could very well produce the division’s next title challenger.
Bellator officials announced the news Tuesday.
When last we saw Douglas Lima, it was on the wrong end of a split decision against “MVP.” The loss extended his losing streak to three, though it’s worth noting that the other two setbacks came in a title fight against Amosov, and an earlier title bout, up a weight class, where Lima unsuccessfully challenged Gegard Mousasi in an attempt to claim a second title.
Prior to his current skid, Lima had won Bellator’s welterweight grand prix, with victories over former champ Andrey Koreshkov, Page, and former champ Rory MacDonald. The win over MacDonald avenged a loss in their previous meeting, and saw Lima reclaim the welterweight championship.
One of Bellator MMA’s true homegrown stars, Lima has faced some of the biggest names in the company over the years, including Ben Askren, Ben Saunders, Lorenz Larkin, Paul Daley, MacDonald, and Page. A multi-time welterweight champion, Lima also won Bellator’s Season 5 and Season 8 170lb tournaments.
Jason Jackson doesn’t have the accolades of his next opponent, but he has found considerable success in the Bellator cage of late. “The Ass-Kicking Machine” has won five straight fights dating back to 2019, against some top-flight competition. Jackson started his hot streak with wins over UFC alums Kiichi Kunimoto and Jordan Mein, then got the better of former UFC champion Benson Henderson. Wins over Paul Daley and Neiman Gracie followed.
The only knock on Jackson’s current run has been his inability to find the finish, having gone to the judges on every occasion.
Bellator London is set to take place on May 13, 2022 at the SSE Arena, Wembley in London, England.
