Lima began his professional mixed martial arts career with decent success, soon compiling a record of 5–0.[7]
In February 2007, Lima faced the future Ultimate Fighter competitor Matt Brown for the ISCF (International Sport Combat Federation) Pro East Coast Welterweight Title. Brown dealt Lima his first professional loss[9] by defeating him via TKO due to punches in the second round.[7]
American Fight League
In May 2008, Lima had his first defense of the title against Brent Weedman. Weedman was reportedly brought in to the fight to showcase Lima's skills, as Weedman was expected to be an easy fight.[10] Weedman threatened early on with a triangle choke which was unsuccessful. Late in the second round, Weedman again caught Lima in a triangle choke, but transitioned to an armbar, which forced Lima to submit, giving Weedman the title.[10] Weedman would later go on to say "They brought me in because Douglas Lima would make a great champ for them. Now, it's my turn to step up. I feel good about the fact that I did a one-fight deal with them. We're going to talk a multi-fight contract now."[10] Following the loss, Lima never appeared for the AFL promotion again.[7]
World Extreme Cagefighting
Following another win via TKO, Lima joined World Extreme Cagefighting. His debut fight was scheduled to take place at WEC 39 against Justin Haskins.[11] However, Lima was forced to withdraw from the card while waiting on papers to arrive from the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.[1] Lima's WEC debut never transpired, as instead, he joined King of the Cage, where he faced another future Ultimate Fighter competitor in Charles Blanchard, losing by unanimous decision.[7]
Maximum Fighting Championship
In September 2010, Douglas Lima joined the Maximum Fighting Championship, facing off against Ryan Ford. In front of Ford's hometown fans, Lima was able to defeat Ford via armbar, early in the second round.[12]
With the win, Lima was given an MFC Welterweight title shot against Jesse Juarez at MFC 27.[13] Lima went on to defeat Juarez via armbar, midway through the final round.[14]
Lima then defended the title against Terry Martin at MFC 29, winning the fight via first-round TKO.[15]
Lima got his title shot against welterweight champion Ben Askren at Bellator 64 on April 6, 2012.[21] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[22]
Lima defeated Jacob Ortiz via head kick and knee at 4:50 of the third round at Bellator 79 on November 2, 2012.[23]
Bellator Season Eight tournament
Lima faced Russian MMA prospect Michail Tsarev in Season Eight Welterweight Tournament on January 24, 2013 at Bellator 86.[24] He won the fight via TKO due to leg strikes in round 2.[25] In the semi-finals, he was scheduled to face Brent Weedman, but ultimately Weedman suffered an injury and was replaced by Bryan Baker at Bellator 90 on February 21, 2013.[26] He won the fight via knock out in the first round.[27] He was expected to face Ben Saunders in a rematch in the tournament final at Bellator 93. However, Lima suffered a broken hand and the rematch was postponed, finally taking place at Bellator 100 on September 20, 2013.[28][29] Lima once again won in the second round, this time via a brutal head kick knockout.[30]
First Bellator Welterweight Championship reign
Lima faced judo olympian Rick Hawn at Bellator 117 on April 18, 2014, for the vacant Bellator Welterweight Championship.[31] After several knockdowns due to leg kicks, Lima won via TKO due to corner stoppage to win the vacant Bellator Welterweight Championship.[32]
Lima was scheduled to make his first title defense against Paul Daley on February 27, 2015 at Bellator 134.[33] However, in January, it was announced that Lima had pulled out of the fight due to injury.[34] Lima was replaced by fellow Brazilian André Santos.[35]
After nearly a year away from the sport, Lima returned to the Bellator cage to replace Josh Koscheck against Paul Daley at Bellator 158 on July 16, 2016.[38] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[39]
The win over Daley earned Lima a rematch against Bellator Welterweight Champion Andrey Koreshkov. The two met in the main event at Bellator 164 on November 10, 2016. Lima regained his title by winning by knockout in the third round.[40]
For the first defense of his second title reign, Lima faced Lorenz Larkin at Bellator NYC on June 24, 2017.[41] He won the fight via a unanimous decision (50–45, 48–47, and 48–47) to retain the Bellator welterweight championship.[42]
On September 6, 2017 Lima announced that he had signed a six-fight, two-year contract with Bellator.[43]
For the second defense of his title, Lima faced Rory MacDonald at Bellator 192 on January 20, 2018.[44] He lost the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision.[45]
In the tournament semifinals, Lima faced the undefeated Michael Page in the co-main event at Bellator 221 on May 11, 2019. Lima won the fight via knockout in round two.[48]
In the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix final, Lima challenged Rory MacDonald in a rematch for the welterweight title at Bellator 232 on October 26, 2019.[49] He won the fight by unanimous decision to become a three-time Bellator welterweight champion and the 2019 Welterweight Grand Prix winner, receiving the $1,000,000 prize.[50]
Lima faced Michael Page in a rematch on October 1, 2021 at Bellator 267.[58] He lost the bout via split decision.[59] 6 out of 7 media outlets scored the bout as a win for Lima.[60]
Lima was scheduled to face Jason Jackson on May 13, 2022 at Bellator 281.[61] However, due to unknown reasons, the bout was pulled from the event and was rescheduled for July 22, 2022 at Bellator 283.[62][63] After the main event was scrapped and the reshuffling of the bouts, Lima vs. Jackson was upgraded to the main event and 5 rounds.[64] At the weigh-ins, Douglas Lima, came in at 172.8 lbs, 1.8 pounds heavy for his headlining welterweight bout. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and Lima was fined a percentage of his individual purse, which went to Jackson.[65] Lima lost the bout via unanimous decision, getting controlled on the ground for 5 rounds.[66]
Return to middleweight
Moving up to Middleweight once again, Lima faced Costello van Steenis on May 12, 2023 at Bellator 296.[67] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[68]
With one fight remaining on his prevailing contract, Lima signed a new multi-year contract with PFL after publicly scolding the organization for keeping him benched for over a year for allegedly too high purse.[69] As the first bout of his new contract, Lima faced Aaron Jeffery at Bellator Champions Series 4 on September 7, 2024.[70] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[71]
Professional grappling career
Lima competed against Rinat Fakhretdinov at ADXC 2 on January 19, 2024.[72] He lost the match by unanimous decision.[73]
Personal life
Lima and his wife have two daughters and a son.[6][74]