Douglas Lima faces Gegard Mousasi for vacant Bellator title

D. Lima after winning the Bellator GP. Photo: Reproduction / Twitter BellatorMMA

After Bellator's middleweight (up to 83,9 kg) champion, Rafael Lovato, gave up his belt to take care of his health, the company acted quickly and has already defined the confrontation that will crown the new number one in the division. On May 9, the Brazilian Douglas lima e Gegard Mousasi will face each other in search of the position of 'king' of the category. The information was released by the organization's president, Scott Coker.

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“On May 9, Gegard Mousase will face Douglas lima for the vacant Bellator middleweight title,” Coker wrote on his Twitter account.

Earlier this week, Lovato said she would give up her title to deal with a rare illness. The athlete was diagnosed with caveroma, a condition that promotes the triggered development of blood vessels in the brain. As there are not many cases of the disease, the fighter is unable to fight.

Rafael won the Bellator belt in June last year, after surprising the world and defeating Mousasi himself. The athlete did not defend his title.

Welterweight champion (up to 77kg.), Douglas lima will have the chance to win his second belt with the organization. The fighter comes victory over Rory McDonald in a confrontation that took place in October last year. In the fight, the man from Goiás overcame the Canadian in a unanimous decision by the judges, won the Gran Prix and took home the category title.

Mousasi, in turn, tries to regain his belt lost to Lovato. The athlete is coming off a victory over the Brazilian Lyoto Machida in a fight that took place in September 2019, in Bellator 228.

Since we can't have a cross-promotional superfight I'll give you another.

🚨 On May 9, @Mousasi_MMA vs. @PhenomLima for the vacancy @BellatorMMA middleweight world championship. pic.twitter.com/8TVpcWP9sa

- Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) February 11, 2020