Bellator MMA welterweight champion Douglas Lima will attempt to defend his title against Andrey Koreshkov in the main event of a televised event on July 17 in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Officials announced the 170-pound title fight on Monday, while hinting at more welterweight bouts to come. The event will take place at Mohegan Sun Arena.
"Douglas Lima is an incredible champion who is in for one of the toughest fights of his life against Koreshkov," stated Bellator president Scott Coker. "When the rest of this card is announced, we will have put together one of the greatest showcases of welterweight talent ever assembled on one night."
Lima (26-5) was scheduled to fight Paul Daley at Bellator 134 in late February, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. Daley (36-13-2) went on to defeat Andre Santos via unanimous decision.
Fighting out of American Top Team Atlanta, Lima will take a five-fight winning streak into the championship tilt. All five wins during the streak have come via knockout.
Koreshkov (17-1) is unlikely to be intimidated by Lima's striking pedigree. The 24-year-old Russian has compiled 10 knockout wins in 17 career victories. He has not fought since a unanimous decision victory against Adam McDonough in July.
Lima claimed the vacant welterweight title in a second-round TKO against Rick Hawn last April. July 17 will mark his first attempted title defense.
