Never beat anybody good? Douglas Lima says he'll answer those critics at Bellator NYC

Bellator welterweight champ Douglas Lima currently sits at No. 13 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, and he knows what it will take to move up that list. That’s why he’s happy Lorenz Larkin signed with Bellator.

“It’s what I wanted – an opponent like Lorenz Larkin,” Lima told MMAjunkie. “He’s coming off important victories over Neil Magny and Jorge Masvidal, and he’s beat a lot of other tough, high-profile fighters. It’s what I need in my career.”

Of course, Lima is on a pretty respectable run, as well. After all, his last two wins have come over the likes of former champ Andrey Koreshkov and British slugger Paul Daley. The Koreshkov win was especially satisfying, since it not only meant earning back the Bellator title but also avenging a loss to the durable Russian.

“This last fight against Andrey Koreshkov was great,” Lima said. “He’s one of the toughest fighters in our weight class. He’s not only fast, but also strong. He’s big and strong. I knew it’d be a tough fight, but … it went well. I think my low kicks defined the fight from the start. I was landing and hurting him. I think that’s why he rushed me on the third round. He was hurt and probably wouldn’t be able to stand in the fourth or fifth round like that, so he tried to finish me in the third, and that’s how I found the opening for the knockout.

“I was really happy with that win, especially since it was a KO. People had been praising Koreshkov since he was coming off a win over Benson Henderson. He ran Henderson over, so we were very happy with the fact that I beat Koreshkov the way I did, and when I did.”

Now Lima (28-6 MMA, 10-2 UFC) puts his belt on the line against Larkin (18-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who sits at No. 7 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie list and makes his Bellator debut at Saturday’s Bellator NYC pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Lima said it’s an opportunity to prove to the world exactly what he’s capable of as a fighter – and a moment he’s been anticipating for quite some time.

“I’ve been following Lorenz for some time now,” Lima said. “I really enjoy his fighting style. He always looks for a finish. I think that matches up well with my game. I always envisioned us fighting. I knew his style would make for a great fight with me.

“I’m really happy, especially since this is Bellator’s first time at Madison Square Garden. It’s an honor. I think our fight could have been the main event. It’s going to be explosive. I’m getting ready. I’m in a great moment in my career. I’m training more intelligently as I get older. We learn with age. I’m almost 30. I want to give everything I have in there. I want to deliver another exciting fight. I’ll look for a knockout or submission.”

A victory would certainly up Lima’s stock, and the Bellator champion is well aware of that reality. While the UFC still holds the majority of the world’s top welterweights, Bellator is constantly looking to add talent to its roster, and Lima wants to take advantage of every opportunity he’s given against top-tier competition.

“This is another chance to prove that we (at Bellator) deserve to be regarded as top fighters,” Lima said. “Sometimes people like to claim that a certain fighter never beat anyone good. That’s been said about Koreshkov and Paul Daley. This is just another chance to show what I can do against one of the best in the world. I’m very excited for this fight.

“I’d like to thank those fans who’ve been with me since the start. And as far as the doubters, I’m here to prove again that I deserve to be at the top and hold this belt. I’m going to defend my belt in spectacular fashion.”

For more on Bellator NYC, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.