Ed Ruth: Champ Douglas Lima fighting for second Bellator belt is good for welterweights

THACKERVILLE, Okla. – The Bellator welterweight title picture is on hold for the time being. However, one of the top contenders in the division isn’t worried about the situation.

Ed Ruth, who meets Yaroslav Amosov in Friday’s Bellator 239 headliner, approves of current 170-pound champ Douglas Lima moving up to fight for vacant middleweight gold against Gegard Mousasi in May.

The result of that contest could create many different scenarios depending on who wins, but Ruth (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) chooses to look at the positive.

“It doesn’t aggravate me at all,” Ruth told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “Everybody is on a personal journey. You’re going to see the belt, you’re going to get your chance and opportunity to fight for it when you do. I think it’s awesome he’s moving up. He’s going up to this next weight class to fight Mousasi, the (former) champ at the next weight class. If he wins, that’s good.

“If he has to come back and defend his title and you beat him, you feel like you can go two weight classes. So it’s more options for us. If he loses then whatever, it gives somebody else the chance to get the belt and go up there. It still shows 170 can compete with 185 and everybody wants to be two-division belt champions.”

Regardless of what Lima (32-7 MMA, 14-3 BMMA) is doing, Ruth said he intends to put himself in the title conversation going forward. Handing the undefeated Amosov (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) his first loss would be a good way to make that happen.

Ruth said he relishes the chance to put the first blemish on Amosov’s record in the Bellator 239 headliner, which takes place at WinStar World Casino and Resort and airs on Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.

“I feel like it’s appropriate,” Ruth said. “I was like, ‘If anything, they better give me somebody who is 22-0.’ I want to show people that there’s a monster coming. There’s going to be way more guys just like him. I want to see him now and I want to see more later.

“For me I just go out there and keep it smart. Keep my hands high, move around, tag the guy when I can and look for my takedowns.”