“A big win like Matt Brown puts me back right there,” Lima said. “I wanted to beat Belal to be ranked right there because I was going to be top 15 for sure, but beating a guy like Matt Brown, a name like him, puts me right there. With Belal winning that fight, there’s a lot of welterweight fights happening right now, there’s a lot of changes going on, it’s a great opportunity and great timing. I’m excited for that.”
When Baeza defeated Brown, things started moving up for the Floridian. Soon after his win he fought Takashi Soto and just a few weeks ago Baeza faced Santiago Ponzinibbio, who is now ranked No. 13 in the division. Muhammad moved up to No. 9 in the rankings after his victory over Brazilian star Demian Maia this past weekend at UFC 263.
With all of the changes going on the welterweight division, Lima knows the weight that this fight carries. Securing a win would allow him to make a statement and after that, it is a matter of how he can keep things going.
“I want to keep that rhythm every three to four months,” Lima said. “I have to keep that; anything longer than that you get your rhythm off and it just sucks. I want to make sure I get another one this year and another one at the beginning of the year and just keep it going. Get these wins going.”
