Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima says Michael Page will need an impressive victory in order to face him again.
Back in May 2019, Lima and Page competed in a semifinal bout in the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix. Lima handed Page the first loss of his pro MMA career with a second-round knockout. Lima went on to win the tournament, becoming a three-time Bellator welterweight champion in the process.
Lima Wants Page To Fight Better Opponents Before Title Shot
Page has been calling for a rematch with Lima for the welterweight gold. Speaking to BJPenn.com, Lima said that he wants to see Page defeat a high-level 170-pounder before they do battle again.
“He needs a ranked win for sure. Sure he won his last three fights. But, after I beat him, he beat a guy, no disrespect, but the guy was 3-1,” Lima said to BJPENN.com. “You can’t come out of a fight with me, lose the way you lost, like a brutal knockout, and then you beat a 3-1 guy and ask for a title shot. That is not how it works. Go beat [Lorenz] Larkin, beat [Andrey] Koreshkov, beat some ranked guys then ask for a title fight. Get some better wins then we will fight.”
Lima has the opportunity to become a “champ-champ.” Bellator is currently on hold with events during the COVID-19 crisis. Once the smoke clears, Lima will take on Gegard Mousasi for the vacant Bellator middleweight championship.
Page last competed back in Dec. 2019. He defeated Shinsho Anzai via second-round knockout at Bellator 237. Page has won three in a row since being stopped by Lima but many have criticized Bellator’s matchmaking. “MVP” has been labeled a “can crusher” by some fans.
Do you think Douglas Lima and Michael Page will eventually clash a second time?
