Douglas Lima (photo via Bellator.com)

By FCF Staff

After winning two welterweight tournaments, Douglas Lima laid claim to Bellator’s vacant championship tonight in Council Bluffs, Iowa, by putting Rick Hawn away with leg kicks.

From the beginning of the bout, Lima battered Hawn’s left leg with punishing kicks, and dropped the Judoka on several occasions. After Hawn was sent to the canvas once again from a kick in round two, the fighter’s corner informed the referee that the bout was over.

With the win, Lima (25-5) has won five straight bouts now since he was decisioned by former Bellator champ Ben Askren in 2012. All five of the victories have come via knockout or TKO.

Here are the results from Bellator 117, which was hosted by Council Bluff’s Mid-America Center.

Welterweight Championship

Douglas Lima def. Rick Hawn via TKO (corner stoppage) R2, 3:19

Lightweight Tournament Semifinals

Patricky “Pitbull def. Derek Campos via TKO (punches) R2, 0:52

Marcin Held def. Derek Anderson via submission (triangle choke) R2, 3:09

Karl Amoussou def. David Gomez via split decision

Martin Brown def. Jared Downing via unanimous decision

Larue Burley def. Cliff Wright Jr. via unanimous decision

Joe Vedepo def. Ben Crowder via verbal submission (injury) R1, 0:48

Anthony Smith def. Victor Moreno via submission (triangle choke) R2, 0:59

Julio Cesar Neves def. Josh Arocho via TKO R2, 2:37

Jordan Parsons def. Tim Bazer via KO (punches) R2, 0:04