Douglas Lima Returns to Bellator, Set to Face Aaron Jeffery in San Diego Showdown

Douglas Lima

Bellator fans can mark their calendars for an electrifying night on September 7th as former champion Douglas Lima makes his long-awaited return to the cage. Lima, affectionately known as "The Phenom," will square off against Aaron Jeffery in a middleweight clash at the upcoming Bellator Champions event in San Diego.

The news was confirmed by promotional officials, sparking excitement among MMA enthusiasts eager to see Lima back in action. Lima's return follows a brief period of uncertainty after the PFL-Bellator merger, where Lima's contract negotiations briefly stalled due to financial considerations.

Lima boasts an impressive resume, having defeated notable fighters like Michael Page, Rory MacDonald, Andrey Koreshkov, and Paul Daley during his illustrious career. Despite facing setbacks with four consecutive losses recently, Lima displayed his resilience with a decisive victory over Costello van Steenis in May 2023.

His opponent, Aaron Jeffery, a Dana White's Contender Series veteran, also brings a formidable record to the ring with victories over Austin Vanderford and Fabio Aguiar in Bellator. Jeffery's most recent bout saw him narrowly edged out by Fabian Edwards, setting the stage for an intense showdown against Lima.

The Bellator Champions card will feature other thrilling matchups, including Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexander Shabliy for the lightweight title in the main event. Raufeon Stots vs. Marcos Breno and Lorenz Larkin vs. Levan Chokheli round out the evening, promising an explosive MMA action.

Fans can expect nothing short of fireworks when Lima and Jeffery step into the cage, each eager to prove their mettle in one of Bellator's most anticipated events of the year.