Bellator MMA welterweight standouts Douglas Lima (25-5 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) and Rick Hawn (18-2 MMA, 10-2 BMMA) will meet on April 18 with the promotion’s vacant 170-pound title on the line.

Bellator officials today announced the championship contest will headline Bellator 117 on April 18 at Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

As with all of Bellator’s Season 10 events, Bellator 117’s main card airs on Spike TV following prelims that stream on Spike.com.

“Without using too many cliches, Lima vs. Hawn is just a fight fan’s dream come true,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney stated. “Both of these fighters are incredibly exciting to watch in the cage, and to have both of them set for a five-round battle for our welterweight title is something I couldn’t be happier about.”

The 26-year-old Lima earned his shot at the belt after an impressive Season 8 tourney win that saw “The Phenom” score knockout wins over Ben Saunders, Bryan Baker and Michail Tsarev. Lima came up short in a 2012 bid for the Bellator welterweight title, losing a decision to then-champ Ben Askren. It’s Lima’s only loss in his past 14 contests.

“This fight with Hawn is going to be very explosive, I think everyone is aware of that,” Lima stated. “I really can’t describe how excited I am for this world title shot. I’m bringing this belt home, and it’s not leaving me for a long time.”

Meanwhile, “Genghis” Hawn was recently crowned the Season 9 welterweight tourney winner after downing Ron Keslar, Brent Weedman and Herman Terrado. It’s also Hawn’s second shot at a Bellator title, as he came up short in a January 2013 bid for the promotion’s lightweight title.

“It’s great to be back in title contention and going for that belt,” Hawn stated. “There is no question Douglas is an incredibly gifted fighter. In terms of his size and skill, this will probably be the toughest fight of my career, and I’m ready for that. I know how exciting this fight is going to be, and I’m just ready for April 18 to get here.”

Bellator’s welterweight title was vacated when the promotion elected not to renew then-champ Askren’s contract, and he migrated to Asia’s ONE FC promotion.

For the latest on Bellator 117, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Douglas Lima)