Ilima-Lei Macfarlane’s first TKO win in the Bellator cage didn’t happen the way she wanted.
The Punahou alumna and flyweight world champion successfully defended her title for the third time when she opened up a cut on the forehead of opponent Veta Arteaga that forced the ringside doctor to stop the fight at 1 minute, 50 seconds of the third round in the co-main event of Bellator 220 on Saturday night in San Jose, Calif.
Macfarlane (10-0, 9-0 Bellator) was in the middle of a tough fight against Arteaga (5-3, 4-3) when she landed a left elbow from the top that split Arteaga’s foreheard wide open, causing blood to pour down Arteaga’s face.
The fight was halted to allow the doctor to look at the cut and called off seconds later.
“I heard it for sure,” Macfarlane said of the elbow. “I felt it in my elbow, but I didn’t think it was going to be what ended the fight. Of course nobody wants to end the fight by doctor’s stoppage.”
It was a legit win for Macfarlane, who still said after the fight she would give Arteaga an immediate rematch.
“I’m sure that’s not how she wanted to go out, so I know exactly who my next opponent is,” Macfarlane said. “It’s going to be Veta. I’m giving her the rematch automatic.”
The TKO victory was the first in nine Bellator fights for Macfarlane, who is tied with four other fighters for the Bellator record with six submission victories.
Macfarlane scored a takedown early in all three rounds but struggled to do much damage from the top.
Arteaga landed an elbow from the bottom in the second round that bloodied Macfarlane’s nose.
Two judges had the fight even at 19-19 and the other had Arteaga up 20-18 entering the third round.
“You guys saw that fight. I really did have my hands full,” Macfarlane said. “She’s a very, very worthy opponent. I knew it was going to be bloody. We were both bleeding.”
Macfarlane ended a rough four-week period for Hawaii’s world champions in mixed martial arts.
Mililani alumna Angela Lee suffered her first professional loss when she was TKO’d by Xing Jing Nan in One Championship on March 31, and Waianae’s Max Holloway lost a unanimous decision to Dustin Poirier at UFC 236 two weeks ago.
Both were fighting a weight class up and are still the champions in their respective weight classes.
Macfarlane said she didn’t feel quite right before walking to the cage.
“I felt weird backstage. I actually felt like I had an adrenaline dump, so those elbows for sure woke me up,” Macfarlane said. “Honestly, I was trying to pick my shots because I knew I couldn’t blow my tank out.”
