Douglas Lima was born in Brazil but later moved to the US where he started training MMA at American Top team in Atlanta. He would start his MMA career with a 5-0 record finishing all of his fights before being finished himself by future UFC fighter Matt Brown. He would lose back to back fights later in his career before entering the Sin City Fight Club: Redline Grand Prix. He would defeat all of his opponents to become the Redline Middleweight champion.

Lima would then go on to fight for MFC where he was impressive in his first fight with a submission of the night over Ryan Ford. The win would earn him a shot at the vacant welterweight title, a fight that he would again win with a submission of the night over Jesse Juarez. He would defend the belt once with a knockout of the night over Terry Martin before being signed to Bellator.

He would then enter Bellator's Season 5 Welterweight tournament in 2011. He would defeat all three of his opponents in the tournament including a TKO over Ben Saunders in the final. Lima would get his shot at title holder Ben Askren but would lose a Unanimous Decision.

Lima won another fight for Bellator before entering the Season 8 Welterweight tournament. He would finish Michail Tsarev in the 2nd round with devastating leg kicks that left Tsarev unable to stand up. Lima's next fight in the Season 8 Welterweight tournament would come against Bryan Baker. Lima would make quick work of Baker, knocking him out in the first round.

In a rematch of the Bellator 57 Welterweight Tournament final, Lima faced Ben Saunders at Bellator 100. Lima repeated his performance in the first fight by again brutally knocking out Saunders in the 2nd round, making Lima the Season 8 Welterweight tournament winner.

With the victory, Lima was slated to fight Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren in a rematch for the Bellator Welterweight title. However, Askren's contract with Bellator was not renewed and the belt was vacated. Lima now faces Season 9 welterweight tournament winner Rick Hawn at Bellator 117 for the vacant Bellator Welterweight championship.