Bellator’s Michael Page is desperate for a rematch with Douglas Lima following the shocking result of their first fight, but has ‘MVP’ done enough to earn it?
No, according to Lima, who is scheduled to take on Gegard Mousasi for the vacant Bellator middleweight title at Bellator 250 this Thursday.
Page suffered a brutal knockout at the hands of Lima at Bellator 221 in 2019 but has since rebounded with four straight victories over four relatively unknown opponents in Richard Kiely, Giovanni Melillo, Shinsho Anzai, and Ross Houston.
And it’s victories over those unknown, unranked opponents, Lima says, as to why ‘Venom’ hasn’t already earned a rematch.
“Fight contenders,” Lima said in response to Page at the Bellator 250 media day (h/t Damon Martin of MMA Fighting). “I’m a champion, I’m here to fight contenders. If he wants a shot at me, go fight guys that’s going to put you next in line for a title shot. He’s been good, he’s been winning his fights but I need to fight contenders. You can’t fight people that has less than five fights and then ask for a title fight. No disrespect to anybody. No disrespect to him as well but if you want to fight the champion, you’ve got to fight fights that get you there. It’s not just talk. You’ve got to fight contenders.
“That’s what I’ve been doing my whole career. Every time I lost a belt, I fought the No. 1 guy next in line for it. I had to go through a tournament to get my belt the last time around. You know what to do if you’re ready. If Bellator says you’re ready, I’m here. I’m here for whoever’s next but like I said, I’m a champion and I fight contenders.”
Bellator 250: Mousasi vs. Lima takes place on Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
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