By FCF Staff
Bellator Fighting Championship has announced two more significant additions to the promotion’s roster, as former Maximum Fighting Championship champ Douglas Lima (pictured) and Wand Fight Team instructor Michael Costa have been signed to its welterweight division.
Lima (18-4) arrives in Bellator having won seven straight, which in addition to winning the MFC title, saw the ATT Atlanta fighter score wins over Jesse Juarez, Ryan Ford and UFC vet Terry Martin.
“In every promotion I've fought in, I've always wanted to be the best welterweight in the division - but with Bellator, this is it,” the 23 year-old Lima was quoted saying in the official announcement. “This is a big organization and I'm going to be fighting on national television on MTV2. This is it for me, finally.”
No information regarding Lima’s Bellator debut was given.
“Over the last two years, Douglas has taken his game to an entirely different level. Many considered him one of the top unsigned welterweights in MMA today. I’m very happy to say that he’s no longer unsigned and that he will be fighting for Bellator,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “We continue to develop one of the strongest 170 lbs. divisions in the sport, and Douglas will be a fantastic addition to that.”
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| Costa |
Costa (10-5-1) hasn’t competed since last November, when he stopped Danny Salinas in the first round, while competing under the South Texas Fighting Championships banner. The soon to be 30 year-old-fighter is 2-2-1 in his last five bouts, with losses coming to Nick Thompson and Makoto Takimoto at Sengoku Raiden Championship 3 and 8 respectively.
“Anyone that has seen me fight before knows that I fight with all my heart, and that I fight to finish my fights by knockout,” said Costa, who is a BJJ Black Belt under Royce Gracie and a Muay Thai black belt under Rafael Cordeiro. “For me, fighting is a war. I want to finish all of my fights with Bellator so the fans remember my name.”
When Costa will make his Bellator debut was not announced.
“Michael Costa has all the tools to have a breakout year and his no nonsense approach in the cage made him a perfect fit for Bellator”, said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney about the Wand Fight Team instructor. “His addition to our welterweight division makes a strong 170 lbs. class that much stronger.”
