Douglas Lima confident in title at Bellator 164, 'even if there aren't too many people paying attention'

Since losing Bellator’s welterweight belt last year, Douglas Lima has been very clear about his eagerness to get it back.

A lot of Lima’s (27-6 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) frustration with the title-costing decision loss to Andrey Koreshkov (19-1 MMA, 10-1 BMMA), he’s repeatedly said, had to do with struggles with injuries. Back then, returning from a one-year layoff following a five-finish run, he said money was the reason  he took the scrap in the first place.

Now, as he prepares to try to reclaim the title from the very man who took it away, Lima expects a much different outcome.

“Everyone who trained with me knows I fought hurt,” Lima told MMAjunkie ahead of Friday’s Spike-televised (with tape delay) Bellator 164, which takes place at Menora Mivtachim Arena, in Tel Aviv.  “But that’s fine. It’s all behind me now. I fought, lost, and now I’m making up for lost time.

“Thankfully I’m very healthy, training well, and highly confident going into this rematch. We expect a good fight. It will be a hard fight, but without a doubt, I’ll come out on top.

“I’m ready and I’m healthy. I’m getting my belt back.”

After getting treatment that helped save both his knee and career, Lima says he is done re-hashing his injuries. And, looking back, he’s at least glad that he was able to go all five rounds in spite of his ailments.

“The way I was – I don’t like talking about it anymore, how injured I was, blah, blah, blah,” Lima told MMAjunkie Radio. “Just being the way I was and going five rounds with him, that kind of, that was good for me,

“I wasn’t finished, not even close to finished at any moment of the fight, he did control me really good but just being able to go five rounds like that, injured the way I was, is something positive I can take from that fight.”

The Brazilian welterweight has fought once since, decisioning Paul Daley in order to earn a title shot. Koreshkov, in turn, has had one title defense, at Bellator 153, when he welcomed former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson with a decision win.

One other thing that both champion and challenger have in common? Their mutual respect.

“He’ll always have my respect,” Lima said. “He keeps to himself. He just shows up and fights. I’m like that too. In our sport, we already have to fight in a cage. So I leave it all in there. There no reason to be talking trash. I’ve never liked that. I was even like that with Daley. Before our fight was announced, we hung out a few times.

“(Daley) only started talking after our fight contract was signed. Then everything changed. I’m just like Andrey. I prefer to be respectful. At any moment we can be knocked out, so it’s best to be quiet. I’m respectful of my opponents. It’s my style. Everyone is different. I like to be respectful. We never know what will happen.”

Inside the cage on Friday, Lima aims to stick to his finishing ways and put on a show for the fans. Outside of it, however, he admits to some concern with timing – after all, the card is tape-delayed and takes place just one day before the massive UFC 205 event, which will bring three title fights to Madison Square Garden.

“Of course, I’m concerned about media coverage and getting sponsors,” Lima said. “But my biggest focus is getting the belt in any possible way. Even if there aren’t too many people paying attention, we’ll have a great fight – a war. If I’m victorious, people will be talking about me.”

“Most of my fights didn’t get much coverage, except for the one with Daley. That was a good victory. He is really tough. But a lot of people don’t talk about the fight itself. I’m used to it. Bellator has been growing. I imagine one day they’ll reach the same level (as the UFC). In the meantime, I’ll just concern myself with having a good fight for the fans. We’ll worry about other stuff later.”

Check out the full video above.

And for more on Bellator 164, check out the MMA Rumors section of the card.