Bellator 192 live blog: Douglas Lima vs. Rory MacDonald

This is the Bellator 192 live blog for Douglas Lima vs. Rory MacDonald, a welterweight championship showdown at Saturday night’s Bellator event at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

Lima, the reigning Bellator welterweight champion, will put his three-fight win streak on the line against MacDonald, a former UFC title challenger in the co-main event.

Check out the Bellator 192 live blog below.

Round 1: MacDonald comes out pressuring Lima immediately and shoots for a takedown but comes up short. After a minute, both fighters settle in, with Lima throwing leg kicks and jabs and MacDonald pressuring and looking to counter. MacDonald shoots in and the two clinch against the cage and eventually MacDonald spins Lima off the fence and gets the takedown, landing in full guard. MacDonald lands a few strong elbows but nothing major and the referee stands them up with 10 seconds left in the round. The round ends without further action. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 MacDonald.

Round 2: Round two opens with a glacially slow pace. Lima lands a good body kick and MacDonald catches it but Lima lands some good punches at MacDonald holds onto the leg. The two eventually clinch against the fence, swapping positions occasionally, neither landing anything substantive. The referee separates them with 2:30 left in the round and we’re back to MacDonald jabbing and Lima working low kicks. Lima starts pumping a jab that is landing with a thud and MacDonald goes for a front kick that lands to the groin. When the fight restarts, MacDonald shoots in on a single but is stuffed and they’re up against the cage again. MacDonald gets double underhooks but Lima uses a whizzer to somehow stay standing. MacDonald briefly has back control but gets nowhere and the round ends with MacDonald landing a solid knee in the clinch. It’s a toss-up round. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 MacDonald (20-18).

Round 3: Lima starts the round with a low front kick and MacDonald’s shin is starting to show the damage. MacDonald shoots a takedown and Lima misses a monster uppercut by a hair. MacDonald forces the clinch and gets double underhooks but Lima fends him off and lands some punches in the clinch but he’s unable to create real separation. MacDonald is controlling the fight but almost completely eschewing damage at this point and he’s now bleeding from his face. They separate and MacDonald immediately drives through on a double leg, finishing the takedown in space. Lima closes MacDonald in full guard and again not much is happening so the referee stands them up with two minutes left in the round. Another low kick from Lima and MacDonald appears to be walking more gingerly now as he has a big welt on his shin. Lima drops MacDonald with a vicious leg kick and follows him to the ground, ending up in full guard. MacDonald is starting to show the damage here and it’s possible MacDonald’s nose has broken. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Lima (29-28 MacDonald).

Round 4: MacDonald immediately looks for the takedown to start the round but Lima reverses him and winds up in mount! MacDonald is in trouble as Lima is smashing MacDonald’s hips and peppering shots in. The camera zooms in on MacDonald’s shin and it looks like he’s wearing soccer shin-guards. MacDonald gets himself back to half-guard while Lima mainly looks to control position and hip away with small shots. MacDonald could be getting tired here as he’s mostly looking to control from bottom position. MacDonald works himself back to full guard and the referee literally immediately stands them up. MacDonald instantly shoots a tired takedown and Lima shuts it down but they’re clinched against the fence again. The separate and Lima throws a leg kick that MacDonald counters with a takedown. MacDonald is now on top and landing some actual ground and pound. Both men look exhausted and nothing major happens until the end of the round. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Lima (38-38).

Round 5: The final round of the fight should decide the winner here and both men come out with renewed purpose. MacDonald forces a clinch and gets a takedown early in the round and is now in half-guard. Lima recomposes his guard and now MacDonald is a bleeding profusely. MacDonald is landing better ground and pound this round and Lima isn’t able to tie him up like in previous rounds. Lima is not even trying to get up and with the fight on the line, MacDonald is willing himself to a win. Lima is still fighting but at this point he has basically surrendered the title and MacDonald keeps grinding on him from top position. MacDonald stands for a moment but comes down strong and rides the round out on top. A stunning display of heart from MacDonald who is a bloody mess and should take home his first world title. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 MacDonald (48-47 MacDonald).

OFFICIAL DECISION: Rory MacDonald defeats Douglas Lima via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-45)