Bellator 232 results: Douglas Lima scores unanimous decision over Rory MacDonald to become three-time welterweight champ

Mark Lelinwalla

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Bellator 232 results: Douglas Lima scores unanimous decision over Rory MacDonald to become three-time welterweight champ image

Rory MacDonald made it clear that he was going to try to take Douglas Lima down to minimize the Brazilian's vaunted leg kicks.

It was a smart strategy except Lima stuffed every takedown attempt and made "The Red King" pay in the process with kicks and punches. Lima's defense leading to offense paved the way for "The Phenom" to defeat MacDonald by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) to exact revenge in their rematch and become a three-time welterweight champion. The win also gave Lima the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix title and the $1 million presented by rap mogul 50 Cent that was part of the king's ransom of awards that he earned at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. and live on DAZN.

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A sequence in the fourth round really told the story of this fight, as Lima blocked yet another takedown attempt from MacDonald and made him pay by dropping him with a leg kick. He then allowed MacDonald to get up off the canvas, before blasting the Canadian with a head kick and a knee to the gut.

It was that kind of night for Lima, who stifled MacDonald on his takedown attempts and used that defense to open up his own offense — whether it was sneaking in that left-handed jab or detonating those low leg kicks.

 

 

While the fight didn't nearly deliver the fireworks that their January 2018 bout had, Lima's strategy was sound, effective and good enough to produce the win and make him a three-time world welterweight champion and $1 million richer.

Here's how the entire Bellator 232 main card went.

Bellator 232 live results, updates, highlights

Main event: Douglas Lima stifles Rory MacDonald in rematch to become three-time welterweight champion, winning Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix title and $1 million; Welterweight World Grand Prix final

Round 5:  Lima popping that left jab to open up. And another for good measure. MacDonald is going to have to get loose and make things happen to retain his title now. MacDonald goes for a takedown, but Lima winds up falling on top of the champion. Blood dripping out of Lima's nose, but it's hard to pinpoint what caused it. MacDonald going for Lima's arm, but doesn't quite have the position to make a submission happen. Now Lima has MacDonald's back, pounding on him with some short hammer fists. Under two minutes left in the fight. Lima lands a big right hand in the mount position, as MacDonald grabs the Brazilian's head, looking for something to set up. MacDonald now winds up on top of Lima, but is struggling to string together any offense. MacDonald lands some elbows and punches on top of Lima over the final 10 seconds, but the striking was too little, too late. SN has Lima winning this one. Let's see how the judges score it. (10-9 MacDonald, 48-47 Lima)

 

 

Round 4:  A low leg kick from Lima ricochets off MacDonald's right leg, nearly buckling the champion. That was the first severe leg kick that Lima has landed. MacDonald goes for another takedown, but Lima blocks it and makes "The Red King" pay with a stiff right hand. His takedown defense has been great in this fight. Lima drops MacDonald with a leg kick, allows the champ to get up off the canvas only to blast him with a head kick. And a knee to the gut follows. Lima is opening up the offense and his strikes are landing now. A Superman punch from MacDonald falls way short during the waning seconds. (10-9 Lima, 39-37 Lima)

Round 3:  A straight left hand snaps the champ's head back. Lima seems to be finding a groove right now. Another takedown attempt from MacDonald stuffed, but the champ currently has Lima up against the cage. Lima delivers a kick to MacDonald's midsection and tries for a low leg kick to take the champ off his feet, but just misses. Lima goes for that calf kick and tries to follow with a big left hook, but misses. He does stick in a right hand that lands, though. Lima is finding a groove, but I'm surprised how reserved both fighters have been through three. (10-9 Lima, 29-28 Lima)

 

 

Round 2:  MacDonald showing a southpaw stance early in the second round, protecting that left leg that he injured in the original fight with Lima last January. The crowd is getting uneasy, booing the lack of action right now. Another takedown attempt from MacDonald stuffed by Lima. "The Phenom" able to open up briefly, tagging MacDonald with a left and stinging right hand combination to put the champ on notice of his power. A nice right hand lands for the challenger moments later. Lima takes the round, but through two, neither fighter has really opened up his offense yet. That should change in this upcoming third round. (10-9 Lima, 19-19)

Round 1:  Both fighters feeling each other out here early on. Lima unleashes a vicious leg kick that strikes MacDonald's right thigh. Let's keep an eye on those leg kicks and see their effects. MacDonald goes for the takedown, but Lima does a good job stuffing the attempt and standing upright against the cage. Solid defense. That's the way the round ends with MacDonald pressing Lima up against the cage. A very tight round to score, but the slightest of nods to the champ. (10-9 MacDonald)

11:47 p.m.:  And here comes "The Red King," Rory MacDonald. Will he make it a third successful title defense?

11:45 p.m.:  Here comes Lima, who has tabbed this the most important fight of his career. Will he become a three-time Bellator world welterweight champion?

11:40 p.m.:  Up next is the moment we've been waiting for, as Rory MacDonald puts the welterweight title on the line against Douglas Lima in the World Grand Prix final with $1 million on the line. Remember, MacDonald earned the title by defeating Lima via unanimous decision last January, although he came out worse for wear due to the Brazilian's savage leg kicks, which caused a hematoma in MacDonald's left leg.

11:30 p.m.:  That was a devastating knockout from Daley. That left hook had plenty of mustard on it, dropping Awad with a thud.

Co-main event: Paul Daley destroys Saad Awad with second-round TKO; 175-pound contract weight

Round 2: Daley   Awad with a stinging right hand, which drives Awad back into the cage. But Awad comes right back with a combination, gesturing to his opponent to bring it. A right and two lefts land for Daley. Perhaps Awad should be careful what he asks for. Daley drops Awad with a huge left hook and here comes the hammer fists. Boom! It's all over! 

 

 

Round 1:  Interesting ending to the first round with Daley teeing off with punches to Awad, who was doing his best to cover up his face and head. As Daley was punching Awad in the head and body, Awad was somewhat playing possum and surprised Daley with a vicious back elbow. Earlier in the round, Daley nailed Awad with a spinning back elbow. (10-9 Daley)

11:15 p.m.:  Saad Awad has made his way into the cage and here comes Paul Daley, who's entering his 60th pro MMA fight. This co-main event is about to begin.

11:13 p.m.:  50 Cent liked what he seen from Mix ... enough to give him a bottle of champagne. 50 will be presenting the winner of the Welterweight World Grand Prix final with $1 million later tonight.

 

 

Patrick Mix cinches in Suloev stretch to finish Isaiah Chapman with third-round submission

11:06 p.m.:  Patrick Mix defeats Isaiah Chapman by third-round submission (Suloev stretch). Just like that!

 

 

In earlier action, Manny Muro def. Nick Newell via split decision (29-28, 27-29, 29-28) and Kevin "Baby Slice" Ferguson Jr. def. Craig Campbell via first-round TKO (strikes) in just 38 seconds.

 

 

10:00 p.m.:  The main card is here, live on DAZN.

9:43 p.m.:  We are 20 minutes away from the start of Bellator 232's main card. Ryan Hardy Evans just submitted Demetrios Plaza in the third round via rear naked choke to end preliminary action.

Bellator 232 fight card

Main card results

  • Douglas Lima def. Rory MacDonald by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) for welterweight title, Welterweight World Grand Prix title and $1 million 
  • Paul Daley def. Sabah Homasi via second-round TKO (punches); Welterweight
  • Patrick Mix def. Isaiah Chapman by third-round submission (Suloev stretch); Bantamweight
  • Manny Muro def. Nick Newell via split decision (29-28, 27-29, 29-28); Contract weight (160 pounds)

Prelims results

  • Ryan Hardy Evans def. Demetrios Plaza via third-round submission (rear-naked choke); Welterweight
  • Lance Gibson Jr. def. Dominic Jones by first-round KO (punches); Lightweight
  • Devin Powell def. Marcus Surin via second-round technical submission (guillotine choke); Lightweight
  • John Lopez def. Dan Cormier by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27); Flyweight
  • Jornel Lugo def. John Douma via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27); Bantamweight
  • Zarrukh Adashev def. Tevin Dyce by second-round TKO (punches); Flyweight

Bellator 232 latest news

- Rory MacDonald looks to prove that his fighting desire and spirit hasn't wavered when he faces Douglas Lima in the Welterweight World Grand Prix final.

- Douglas Lima's weapon of choice throughout his career has been his leg kicks, especially those low leg kicks. This is how he turned the striking into an art form .

- Everything you need to know about how to watch and live stream Bellator 232 .

Mark Lelinwalla

Mark Lelinwalla Photo

Mark Lelinwalla is a contributing writer and editor for DAZN News. He has written for the likes of the New York Daily News, Men's Health, The Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, Complex, XXL and Vibe Magazine.