Welterweights Douglas Lima, Chidi Njokuani Matched for Bellator 156 Co-Main Event

Douglas Lima will return to the action for the first time since losing his welterweight title when he meets Chidi Njokuani in the Bellator 156 co-main event.

Promotion officials announced the 170-pound pairing on Tuesday. Bellator 156 takes place at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., on June 17 and is headlined by a bantamweight championship rematch between Marcos Galvao and Eduardo Dantas. The evening’s main card airs on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

Lima lost the welterweight crown in a five-round verdict against Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 140 last July, snapping a five-fight winning streak for “The Phenom.” Lima is 8-2 under the Bellator banner overall, with his only other defeat coming at the hands of departed ex-champ Ben Askren.

Njokuani enters the contest unbeaten in his last six bouts, including a unanimous decision victory over Ricky Rainey in his promotional debut at Bellator 146. The 27-year-old Las Vegas resident is 14-4 in his pro career, with eight wins via knockout or technical knockout.