Douglas Lima

By Kelsey Mowatt

Although Douglas Lima’s stock has likely never been higher, the Bellator welterweight champ decided it was time to make a change, after he was sent to the sidelines once again earlier this year.

Lima was scheduled to fight Paul Daley at Bellator 134 in February, but a knee injury forced the punishing striker to withdraw. The injury was just the latest to hit the 27 year-old fighter, who has fought just once now since September, 2013.

Now, Lima is set make his return against Andrey Koreshkov on July 17th, which will mark the first time he’s fought since last April, when he stopped Rick Hawn.

“It feels good. It’s been a really rough year for me. I’ve been in three surgeries in the last year,” Lima relayed on a recent episode of Full Contact Fighter Radio. “Just getting re-injured but it feels better right now. I rehabbed it a lot and I’ve taken care of it. It’s like a lesson learned you know? I kind of changed my lifestyle a little bit. I’ve been living on a diet right now.”

“It just feels much better,” Lima added. “My body is responding really good to it, to the training as well, and it’s looking good. I’m ready to go July 17th. I can’t wait. It’s been a long time. I’ve been training a lot, and I can’t wait to show what I’ve got.”

Lima has always been considered a big welterweight for the division, but like former UFC champ Johny Hendricks, the Brazilian decided he was carrying too much weight in between fights.

“Yeah it’s both,” said Lima, when asked if he decided to keep his weight off as a means to reduce the stress on his joints. “I feel much better when I’m on a diet. It’s good for the injuries as well. Your body responds so much better when you’re eating cleaner. It’s something that I changed.”

“Also with the weight of course, I’m not walking around at 205, 210 anymore, I’m trying to say under 200,” added Lima. “So, everything is going really good. I like it so much better. I feel much better. Training is good, the power is still there, so I think it’s all coming for the best.”

Lima-Koreshkov will headline Bellator 140, which will be hosted by the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The main card for the July 17th event will be broadcast on SPIKE.