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MacDonald to challenge Lima for Bellator 170-lb title on Jan. 20

Bellator MMA

Bellator's welterweight title will be up for grabs when the promotion takes Los Angeles in early 2018.

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Rory MacDonald will look to dethrone Bellator's 170-pound king, Douglas Lima, on Jan. 20 at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., president Scott Coker confirmed Wednesday on Twitter following multiple reports.

MacDonald signed with the Coker-led outfit late last summer after fighting out his UFC contract. The 28-year-old made his promotional debut in May at Bellator 179, where he submitted Paul Daley in the second round to snap a two-fight skid and earn his shot at the title.

Since losing the Bellator strap to Andrey Koreshkov in July 2015, Lima has bested Daley, reclaimed the gold with a third-round KO of Koreshkov, and - most recently - defended it against Lorenz Larkin at Bellator NYC in June. The 29-year-old Brazilian has won all but two of his 13 bouts under the Bellator banner.

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