The next undisputed Bellator middleweight champion will finally be crowned on October 29th. at Bellator 250. Former division kingpin, Gegard Mousasi tackles current welterweight titleholder, Douglas Lima who makes the leap to middleweight – with vacant spoils up for grabs.
Mousasi and Lima were originally scheduled to meet for the vacant 185-pound title at Bellator 242 in May until the entire event was cancelled amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The winner will lay claim to the middleweight throne, as the first titleholder since Rafael Lovato Jr. was forced to vacate the crown earlier this year.
Back in the winner’s enclosure following his championship loss to Lovato Jr. – decorated all-rounder, Mousasi took a rematch win over former UFC light heavyweight champion, Lyoto ‘The Dragon’ Machida at Bellator 228 in September of last year – in a close split judging affair.
Riding a massive wave at welterweight, dominant champion, Lima looks to translate his success a division higher following his most recent win over now PFL contender, Rory MacDonald in a re-run at Bellator 232 last October – in a unanimous decision successful title win.
Following his transition from the UFC back in late 2017 – former Bellator, Cage Warriors, Strikeforce, and DREAM gold holder, Mousasi has established a 4-1 promotional résumé. The 35-year-old Iran born finisher has notched promotional victories over Rafael Carvalho, Alexander Shlemenko, as well as common-opponent, MacDonald. From A whopping fifty-five professional outings, Mousasi has managed a staggering 46-7 record.
Goiás native, Lima is in the midst of his third reign as Bellator welterweight champion, following prior championship surges back in 2016, and 2014. Like Mousasi, Lima is a highly-dangerous striker and submission threat, lodging fourteen knockouts and twelve submissions, respectively.
Amongst his hitlist, the 32-year-old Brazilian has bested the likes of Michael ‘Venom’ Page, Andrey Koreshkov (x2), Lorenz Larkin, Paul Daley, and Ben Saunders (x2) to name a few.
