Dhiego Lima (photo via @DhLimaMMA / Twitter )

By Kelsey Mowatt

Although Dhiego Lima is not currently sitting on the UFC roster, so far, the welterweight continues to run the comeback trail.

After being released by the UFC last summer, Lima fought for Legacy FC in April, and earned a unanimous decision win over Antonio Trocoli. Then in June, Lima took home Titan FC’s 170 title, by decisioning David Michaud. The bout was a thrilling, and gruelling, five round battle.

“It feels great man,” Lima said on a recent episode of Full Contact Fighter Radio, while discussing his championship win. “It feels great to finally be a champion. It’s something that I’ve been working on my whole career, and man, I’m really happy right now…”

“It was a close fight, it was a war, we went to war, and it was amazing. It was an amazing experience. I learned a lot from that fight,” added Lima. “My stock went up after that fight and I’m just excited man.”

Lima is clearly thrilled to be Titan FC’s champ, but the 27 year-old fighter doesn’t hide the fact he hopes to make another UFC run. The American Top Team fighter made it to the TUF 19 Finale in 2014, and was stopped by Eddie Gordon in the first round. Lima proceeded to go 1-2 in his next three Octagon appearances.

“I definitely have the opening to the UFC,” said Lima, when asked if his contract allows him to return to the UFC, if the promotion calls. “I’m on a two fight win streak now. So, hopefully someone gets hurt and they’ll call me on short notice. I’ll be ready. I never stop training. I took a week off after the fight and I’ve been training, my weight’s low, so if anybody gets hurt, I’m open. I already told Joe Silva…if not, I’ll be looking to defend my title.”

Lima went on to add that he believes he could be booked to defend Titan FC’s welterweight title sometime in October. Would the veteran fighter be open to a rematch with Michaud? If Titan FC wanted to book that fight?

“Man, it is what it is. If I have to rematch him, I’ll rematch him…I’ll make sure I put him away this time,” said Lima. “If that’s the case, I don’t mind it.”