Bellator 192 preview: Will Douglas Lima finally get his due?
For Douglas Lima, being a world champion isn't all it's made out to be.
Despite sporting a knockout-riddled promotional record and victories over Paul Daley, Andrey Koreshkov, and Lorenz Larkin, the two-time and reigning Bellator welterweight king's name is often excluded from discussions regarding the cream of the talent-rich weight class' crop, and his exploits haven't translated to the fanfare he's earned many times over in the past. But that can all change Saturday.
The 30-year-old makes the second title defense of his sophomore reign against a far better-known property in former UFC contender Rory MacDonald at Bellator 192 in Inglewood, Calif. The marquee import was touted as a champion in the making and heir apparent to teammate and longtime welterweight ruler Georges St-Pierre many moons ago, but fell short in his first and only bid at the crown, dropping an instant classic to Robbie Lawler by fifth-round TKO at UFC 189.
After fighting out his contract in a loss on points to Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson in June 2016, MacDonald took his talents to Scott Coker's Bellator, cementing his spot as Lima's next challenger with a second-round submission of the always-dangerous Daley in May. He now looks to do in Bellator what he couldn't under the UFC banner in a fight billed as one that will determine the world's preeminent welterweight.
To some surprise, Lima and MacDonald were recently confirmed as Saturday's co-headliners - a slot viewed by many as yet another slight to their world-class abilities - but the most tantalizing matchup of Coker's time at the helm is no second fiddle.
Behemoths collide in grand prix opener
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
It's been nearly two years since Bellator boasted a heavyweight champion, and the first step toward filling the void takes place in Saturday's main event.
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Chael Sonnen will meet in the opening matchup of an eight-man heavyweight grand prix meant to crown a new divisional titleholder. A veritable clash of styles, Jackson - whose disdain for fighting wrestlers has been thoroughly documented - has made it known he'll look to keep the action standing, while his fellow UFC alum will ride his vaunted wrestling in an effort to bring proceedings to the mat.
Contrary to the tourney Coker staged during his Strikeforce days six years ago, only half the men in this incarnation can call themselves career heavyweights. Jackson has competed primarily at 205 pounds and won a light heavyweight title in the UFC, although his relationship with the scale grows all the more acrimonious by the day, while Sonnen long fought at 185 pounds before making a permanent move up in weight at the tail end of his UFC run. Nonetheless, Coker's latest endeavor has plucked at many a die-hard's heartstrings as one that'll see a quarter-final matchup take place every month until May, with the alternates to be unveiled at the conclusion of Saturday's bill.
Chandler gets back in the saddle
(Photo courtesy: Bellator MMA)
When a freak ankle injury cost Michael Chandler the lightweight crown that went to Brent Primus by first-round TKO in their date at Bellator NYC this past June, the prevailing belief was the pair would run it back - if only due to their fight's unceremonious end.
What Chandler got was a dance with prospect Goiti Yamauchi on Saturday's bill.
After months of finger-pointing and accusations of ducking between he and Primus, the 31-year-old Chandler now claims to have set his sights on marquee matchups as opposed to reclaiming the gold sitting in Primus' trophy case. But first, he meets Yamauchi in what - oddly enough - Coker recently anointed a title eliminator. Chandler has deemed the 25-year-old the lightweight division's most dangerous matchup, and with good reason, as Yamauchi has won three straight by first-round submission since moving up from featherweight in the fall of 2016. The prospect faces his toughest task yet on the first bout of a long-term deal he inked shortly after tapping Adam Piccolotti at Bellator 183 in September.
Prospect watch
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Aaron Pico heads into his third professional fight with far less pressure than he did in his first two.
After rebounding from a disastrous debut that lasted all of 24 seconds with a stunning first-round KO of Justin Linn at Bellator 183 in the fall, the lauded blue-chipper aims to further his development in a date with Shane Kruchten on Saturday, just a stone's throw from his native Whittier, Calif. Much like Pico's first two foes, Kruchten owns a significant edge in experience with a pro record of 12-3, and was last seen competing under the World Series of Fighting banner 13 months ago.
Making his MMA debut is Khonry Gracie, the 20-year-old spawn of luminary Royce Gracie. The latest fighter from the sport's first family won his amateur debut as a welterweight by decision in September on a regional show in Memphis, and will be sharing the cage with another professional debutant in Devon Brock - who boasts a 5-0 amateur record - on the evening's prelims.
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