Bellator MMA Welterweight Champion Douglas Lima is defending the gold against UFC veteran Rory MacDonald this January at Bellator MMA: Lima vs. MacDonald.
Lima is going to be defending the gold the night and he plans on keeping his belt by getting the finish over the former UFC star.
“MMA math doesn’t work,” Lima said to MMA Junkie. “It doesn’t matter if I took a guy to a decision, and he finished a guy. … It doesn’t matter. I guess it matters to him. But for me, I’m going to make it simple for him. I’m going to finish him instead of a decision. Let him say what he wants to say. I really see myself knocking this guy out. I do. People say he’s tough, he’s been through some wars. But, man, that jaw is always going to be the same. And I’m going to find it, and I’m going to knock this guy out. Mark my words, I’m going to finish him.”
MacDonald has challenged for UFC gold before, falling to then UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 189.
In his second quest for welterweight gold, the Canadian MMA superstar is also planning to get a finish in the fight.
“I do believe that, in the transitions, that these more skilled and more well rounded guys present, I think that’s where I’m going to shine,” MacDonald told MMA Junkie. “And have my exciting moments that really give the fan an eye-opening experience, like ‘OK, this is the level of difference of the top guy and the guy just underneath.’ I don’t say all of them, but I would say the majority (of fans) think that this guy is going to get squashed. I do think that it’s going to be a lot more competitive than the Paul Daley Fight. But, on the same note, I do believe his skillset is going to only delay what’s going to happen. I’m confident that I’m going to put him away.”
Bellator MMA: Lima vs. MacDonald takes place on Saturday, January 20 from The Forum in Inglewood, California with Douglas Lima and Rory MacDonald headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on Spike TV.
