Douglas Lima wary but unfazed by Yaroslav Amosov's wrestling: 'I've seen it all'

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Douglas Lima knows he’s facing a stern test in undefeated Yaroslav Amosov, but he expects his experience to make the difference.

Welterweight champion Lima (32-8 MMA, 14-3 BMMA) will defend his title against Amosov (25-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) in the main event of Bellator 260 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

It will mark Lima’s first title defense since recapturing his title from Rory MacDonald at Bellator 232. After a failed attempt to win the vacant middleweight title against Gegard Mousasi, Lima returned to his original weight class and will take on Amosov, who’s never tasted defeat in 25 pro fights.

A three-time sambo champion, Amosov boasts a strong grappling game and Lima is more than ready to have to defend numerous takedowns in the fight.

“Good matchup, undefeated guy, complete fighter,” Lima told MMA Junkie and other reporters Friday. “He’s a great wrestler, he’s a good striker and (I’m) looking forward to locking horns with him and coming out on top.

“He adapts really good to the fighter he competes against, and I’ve just got to be ready for everything. I know he’s going to shoot a lot, too, so I’ve got to make sure the wrestling is in top form and we go from there. Let’s see what happens.”

It won’t be the first time Lima goes up against an undefeated fighter. In the 2019 welterweight grand prix, Lima faced unbeaten Michael Page in the semifinals, handing the flashy striker his first loss by knocking him out in the second round at Bellator 221.

So while Amosov may have an impressive record, Lima knows he’s fought the much better competition, giving him supreme confidence that he will bounce him out of the ranks of the unbeaten.

“It’s good to say he’s 25-0 until he faces me,” Lima said. “A sport like this, you can’t be undefeated like that and not be doing something right. He’s definitely earned his shot.

“I’ve fought much bigger names, much bigger fighters, so I’m not too concerned. Even though he’s 25-0, the difference is the level of opponents, the level of fighters that you compete against, and I know I have that in my record. I’ve fought against great guys, been here in the company for like a decade, so I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen everything, so I’ve just got to be in my best form and it doesn’t matter who it is. I’m going to be the winner.”