It wasn’t the most rock ’em, sock ’em fight in Bellator history, but a win is a win for Jason Jackson’s record.
In the Bellator 283 main event Friday, Jackson (16-4 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) defeated former welterweight champion Douglas Lima (32-11 MMA, 14-7 UFC) via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to solidify his place as a top contender in the division.
Bellator 283 took place Friday at Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash.
Much of the first two rounds were spent in the same position. After Lima fired some leg kicks, he was taken down early by Jackson. One on the canvas, Jackson wasn’t successful in positional advancement but did just enough to keep Lima there. In Round 2, Jackson secured another takedown. Lima briefly showed signs of life when he connected with a stunning upkick on Jackson, who survived and remained on top.
In Round 3, Jackson took Lima down again. Lima eventually reversed position – only to have his reversal reversed. The crowd booed as the championship rounds began. Lima tried to go back to his leg kicks, but Jackson took him down – again. That is where they stayed.
In Round 5, seemingly everyone knew what was coming and it still happened. Jackson took Lima down immediately and drained out the clock.
With the victory, Jackson may have clinched a title shot. The welterweight division is currently log-jammed with undisputed titleholder Yaroslav Amosov returning from military service in Ukraine, and interim champion Logan Storley awaiting a unification bout.
Jackson, 31, has not lost in the promotion, since a debut defeat to Ed Ruth. Since then, Jackson defeated Kiichi Kunimoto, Jordan Mein, Benson Henderson, Neiman Gracie, Paul Daley, and now, Lima.
As for Lima, his struggles to get into the win column continue. Largely dominant through the first nine years of his Bellator tenure, which included three runs as welterweight champion, Lima has now lost four fights in a row. After an unsuccessful title challenge at middleweight against Gegard Mousasi, Lima lost his welterweight title to Yaroslav Amosov. He returned to lose a controversial split decision to Michael Page in October, and now has a defeat to Jackson, too.
Lima missed weight for the Bellator 283 headliner, as he tipped the scales at 172.8 – 1.8 pounds over the welterweight limit.
The full Bellator 283 results include:
Jason Jackson def. Douglas Lima via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Tofiq Musayev def. Sidney Outlaw via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:27
Usman Nurmagomedov def. Chris Gonzalez via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:54
Mukhamed Berkhamov vs. Lorenz Larkin results in a no contest (unintentional illegal elbow) – Round 1, 2:52
Marcelo Golm def. Davion Franklin via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:36
Dalton Rosta def. Romero Cotton via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:38
Veta Arteaga def. Vanessa Porto via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:47
Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Bobby King via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Akhmed Magomedov def. Kevin Boehm via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:16
Roman Faraldo def. Luis Iniguez via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:42
Jaylon Bates def. Mark Coates via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Archie Colgan def. Bryan Nuro via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:15