It’s only taken two years for Ilima-Lei Macfarlane to become the face of women’s mixed martial arts in Bellator.
The 2009 Punahou graduate, whose split-decision win in August 2015 began her run to the top of the promotion, fights to become the first female flyweight world champion tonight against Emily Ducote at Bellator 186 in University Park, Penn.
Macfarlane (6-0) and Ducote (6-2) will fight for the first recognized female world championship at 125 pounds in North America.
The biggest organization in MMA, the UFC, recognizes female world champions at 115, 135 and 145 pounds.
ONE Championship, based in Asia, only recognizes a 115-pound women’s world title, currently held by Mililani’s Angela Lee.
| BELLATOR 186
Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, Pa.
MAIN EVENT
Ryan Bader (23-5) vs. Linton Vassel (18-5) for light heavyweight world title
CO-MAIN EVENT
Emily Ducote (6-2) vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (6-0) for women’s flyweight world title
TV: Spike, 6 p.m. (tape delayed)
|
Macfarlane can become the fourth Hawaii-bred world champion in a major mixed martial arts promotion, joining B.J. Penn, Max Holloway and Lee.
“Trying to keep everything the same,” Macfarlane said last week before leaving for Pennsylvania, where she has been involved in media obligations all week promoting the fight. “My biggest, ‘what’s making me nervous?’ moment right now is that I’m not nervous, and that in itself is making me worry that I might be taking her too lightly.”
Macfarlane, who has won half of her professional fights by submission, defeated Ducote by unanimous decision last December.
Macfarlane then submitted Jessica Middleton by armbar in the first round in April to set the stage for Bellator to introduce a world title in the women’s 125-pound division.
Ducote got the shot by bouncing back to submit Katy Collins by rear-naked choke in the first round in March, and then won a decision over Middleton in July.
“The last time, it was a really close fight and she capitalized off my mistakes at times,” Macfarlane said. “It wasn’t like she out-skilled me or did anything better than me, I made the mistakes and she capitalized off of them.
“If anything, she trains year-round and has had two fights already this year and I’ve only had one. This is my first five-round fight, so my cardio is important, but other than that, I feel like I’m better everywhere else — on the ground, on the feet, whatever.”
Macfarlane has a charisma and a character perfect for Bellator to feature her as a potential star in the organization.
That’s important, because as is the case with most high-level fighters, it’s not just success in the cage that makes a fighter a star.
Macfarlane has started to play the role of promoter for herself outside of it, making the fighting aspect just one part of building a successful career.
“That’s the thing that a lot of fighters don’t understand, unfortunately, is the sport itself is about winning, but there’s also a business side to it,” Macfarlane said. “You have to be able to promote yourself to get fans because they are the ones that give the money.
“I’ve come to learn that it’s almost 50 percent business and 50 percent MMA.”
Tonight’s fight card is headlined by a light heavyweight title fight feature former UFC fighter Ryan Bader against Linton Vassel.
The event will be shown on SpikeTV in Hawaii on a tape-delayed basis beginning at 6 p.m. Macfarlane’s fight will happen live around 2 p.m. Hawaii time and can be seen online.
