[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag]’s latest fight booking won’t do anything to move him closer to a Bellator welterweight title rematch with [autotag]Douglas Lima[/autotag].
Lima (32-7 MMA, 14-3 BMMA) , who handed Page (16-1 MMA, 12-1 BMMA) his sole career loss with a brutal knockout at Bellator 221 in May, is open to the idea of running it back with “MVP,” but not until he proves he deserves.
Since the loss, Page has scored highlight-reel finishes of Richard Kiely and Giovanni Melillo. He next meets Shinsho Anzai at Bellator 237 on Dec. 28, and once again, it’s a matchup Lima fails to see the benefit in.
“‘MVP,’ he’s definitely got to get a better win against ranked opponents,” Lima told MMA Junkie. “The fans have been saying that. It’s like (laughs), come on. The guy is a killer, he’s really good, but that’s not what it’s about when it comes to titles.”
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All Lima has to do to justify his stance is look at his career path compared to Page. The Brazilian has been fighting the division’s best for the past five years, and both times he’s dropped the Bellator belt, has been forced to go overcome a murderer’s row to take back the throne.
“I had to go through a whole tournament against the top guys in my division to get my belt back,” Lima said. “So, that’s got to happen for him. But whenever he’s ready and does his work, I’ll be waiting.”
Lima’s past two losses have been followed by fights against Paul Daley and Andrey Koreshkov, which are no easy task. Page has been getting matchmaking layups, though, then calling out Lima for a rematch after the fact.
“You can’t win a fight against a guy that’s 3-1 – no disrespect to the guy of course – but you shouldn’t ask for a title shot,” Lima said. “It can’t be after a fight like that. Especially because he just fought Daley, he just fought myself. For a title fight you have to show more to demand that. But he’s winning. He’s getting these knockouts. Good for him. But for a title shot, a little more ranked opponents would be better.”
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Lima said if Page wins his next fight and Bellator offers him the rematch, he would be conflicted. He has a clear stance about how Page’s career is being handled, but he also prides himself in being a fighting champion who takes on all comers.
If the fight does materialize before Page gets more legitimate wins, it would come begrudgingly from Lima’s side, he admitted.
“It is what it is,” Lima said. “He’s tough, he’s doing his thing and when the time is right we’ll do it for sure.”
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