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Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

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American mixed martial artist
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Macfarlane in 2020.
Born (1990-04-02) April 2, 1990 (age 34)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Other namesThe Ilimanator
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)
DivisionFlyweight
Reach66+1⁄2 in (169 cm)
Fighting out ofSan Diego, California, U.S.
TeamSan Diego Combat Academy
RankBlack belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total16
Wins13
By knockout2
By submission6
By decision5
Losses3
By knockout1
By decision2
UniversitySan Diego State University
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (born April 2, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the flyweight division of Bellator MMA. She is the inaugural and former Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion.

Background

In her youth, Macfarlane played basketball, but her aspirations in the sport came to a stop due to series of knee injuries. Macfarlane graduated from Punahou School in 2009 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Although she got a scholarship for wrestling to Menlo College, she decided to study Anthropology at San Diego State University from where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in 2013. Afterwards, she continued her education at SDSU to study Master of Arts in Liberal Studies.

During the summer before grad program, she decided to lose some weight she gained in the college and joined a CrossFit gym and Liz Carmouche's MMA gym. She grew affinity for mixed martial arts and continued training at the San Diego Combat Academy.

Mixed martial arts career

Xplode Fight Series

Macfarlane began her amateur MMA career in 2014. She fought five times during that year, mainly with Xplode Fight Series, and went undefeated as an amateur.

Macfarlane's first professional fight was an unsanctioned match against Katie Castro for Xplode Fight Series in 2015. Macfarlane won via technical knockout ten seconds into the bout. In the aftermath of the lopsided affair, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) launched an investigation into the organization's unsanctioned MMA events. Castro had a 0–2 record before fighting Macfarlane and footage of the match was posted on the internet and labeled "Soccer mom loses to MMA fighter". The video went viral, garnering over a million views on YouTube and was discussed on a few television news networks.

Bellator MMA

Following the bout with Castro, Macfarlane signed a three-fight contract with Bellator MMA. She made her debut in August 2015 at Bellator 141 where she defeated Maria Rios by split decision.

Macfarlane fought Amber Tackett at Bellator 148 where Macfarlane won by armbar submission in the first round.

Macfarlane's next bout was against Rebecca Ruth at Bellator 157 where she won by standing rear-naked choke in the second round.

Macfarlane would then fight Emily Ducote at Bellator 167 where she was victorious via unanimous decision.

Macfarlane faced Jessica Middleton at Bellator 178 and won by armbar submission in the first round.

Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion

Macfarlane and Emily Ducote had a rematch at Bellator 186 for the inaugural Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship. Macfarlane won the bout with an armbar variation in the fifth round to win her first MMA championship.

Macfarlane faced Alejandra Lara at Bellator 201 for the first defense of her flyweight title. Macfarlane won the fight in the third round via armbar.

Macfarlane faced Valérie Létourneau at Bellator 213 in Macfarlane's hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii. Macfarlane successfully defended her title for a second time, defeating Létourneau by third round submission.

In her third title defense, Macfarlane faced Veta Arteaga at Bellator 220 on April 27, 2019. She won the fight via TKO due to a doctor's stoppage in the third round.

Macfarlane made her fourth title defense against Kate Jackson at Bellator 236 on December 21, 2019. Macfarlane was victorious via unanimous decision.

On February 10, 2020, it was announced that Macfarlane had signed a ten-fight, five-year extension contract with Bellator.

Macfarlane attempted her next defense against undefeated challenger Juliana Velasquez on December 10, 2020, at Bellator 254. She lost the fight and her title via unanimous decision.

Post Title Reign

After more than a year off due to knee surgery and rehab, Macfarlane made her return against Justine Kish on April 23, 2022, at Bellator 279. In an upset, she lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Macfarlane faced Bruna Ellen at Bellator 284 on August 12, 2022. At weigh ins, Macfarlane was three pounds over the division non-title fight limit at 129 lbs, resulting in her being a fined a percentage of her purse which went to Ellen and the bout proceeded at catchweight. She won the bout via unanimous decision.

Macfarlane faced Kana Watanabe on April 22, 2023, at Bellator 295. She won the close bout via split decision.

MacFarlane was scheduled to face reigning champion Liz Carmouche for the Bellator Women's Flyweight Championship on October 7, 2023, at Bellator 300. However at the weigh-ins, Macfarlane came in at 126.6 lb (after coming in at 127.4 lb in her first attempt), 1.6 pounds over the women's flyweight limit for a title fight. The commission gave her an additional hour to cut weight, but Macfarlane came in at 128.2 lb. As a result, the bout proceeded as a one way title bout, where in the event that Macfarlane won the fight, she would be ineligible for the championship and the title would be left vacant, while if Carmouche won it would still count as a title defense. MacFarlane lost the fight via leg kick TKO in the fifth round.

Professional grappling career

Macfarlane competed in a four-woman Combat Jiu-Jitsu tournament at EBI 12 on July 29, 2017 where she won both matches and the title.

Macfarlane returned to grappling at Submission Underground 21 on March 28, 2021 where she faced Jessica Eye. She won the match by submission in EBI overtime.

Macfarlane was promoted to black belt by Richie Martinez at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu San Diego on August 13, 2023.

Personal life

In April 2020, Ilima-Lei, her sister Mahina, and one other female who chose to remain anonymous to the public filed a lawsuit against Punahou School for failing to take action over years of alleged sexual abuse from the school's assistant basketball coach, Dwayne Yuen. In the lawsuit, all three allege Yuen of years of sexual abuse, harassment, lewd gestures, and showing young girls several pornographic photos. In February 2023, Yuen was arrested and charged with child pornography charges.

Championships and accomplishments

Combat jiu-jitsu

  • Eddie Bravo Invitational

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
16 matches 13 wins 3 losses
By knockout 2 1
By submission 6 0
By decision 5 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 13–3 Liz Carmouche TKO (leg kick) Bellator 300 October 7, 2023 5 0:17 San Diego, California, United States For the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship. Macfarlane missed weight (126.6 lbs) and was ineligible for the title.
Win 13–2 Kana Watanabe Decision (split) Bellator 295 April 22, 2023 3 5:00 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Win 12–2 Bruna Ellen Decision (unanimous) Bellator 284 August 12, 2022 3 5:00 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States Catchweight (129 lb) bout; Macfarlane missed weight.
Loss 11–2 Justine Kish Decision (unanimous) Bellator 279 April 23, 2022 3 5:00 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Loss 11–1 Juliana Velasquez Decision (unanimous) Bellator 254 December 10, 2020 5 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Lost the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship.
Win 11–0 Kate Jackson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 236 December 21, 2019 5 5:00 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Defended the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship.
Win 10–0 Veta Arteaga TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 220 April 27, 2019 3 1:50 San Jose, California, United States Defended the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship.
Win 9–0 Valérie Létourneau Submission (triangle choke) Bellator 213 December 15, 2018 3 3:19 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Defended the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship.
Win 8–0 Alejandra Lara Submission (armbar) Bellator 201 June 29, 2018 3 3:55 Temecula, California, United States Defended the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship.
Win 7–0 Emily Ducote Submission (triangle armbar) Bellator 186 November 3, 2017 5 3:42 University Park, Pennsylvania, United States Won the inaugural Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship.
Win 6–0 Jessica Middleton Submission (armbar) Bellator 178 April 21, 2017 1 2:15 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 5–0 Emily Ducote Decision (unanimous) Bellator 167 December 3, 2016 3 5:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win 4–0 Rebecca Ruth Submission (standing rear-naked choke) Bellator 157 June 24, 2016 2 3:00 St.Louis, Missouri, United States
Win 3–0 Amber Tackett Submission (armbar) Bellator 148 January 29, 2016 1 2:09 Fresno, California, United States
Win 2–0 Maria Rios Decision (split) Bellator 141 August 28, 2015 3 5:00 Temecula, California, United States
Win 1–0 Katie Castro KO (punches) Xplode Fight Series – Hurricane January 17, 2015 1 0:10 Valley Center, California, United States

Amateur record breakdown
5 matches 5 wins 0 losses
By knockout 1 0
By submission 3 0
By decision 1 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 5–0 Angela Hancock Submission (armbar) Xplode Fight Series - Wasteland November 8, 2014 3 1:32 Valley Center, California, United States
Win 4–0 LaToya Darby TKO (punches) Xplode Fight Series - Tornado September 20, 2014 1 0:50 Valley Center, California, United States
Win 3–0 Breanna Bland Submission (kimura) Xplode Fight Series - Tidal Wave August 23, 2014 1 1:47 Valley Center, California, United States
Win 2–0 Monique Martinez Decision (split) Archangel Worldwide MMA – Tournament of Truth 2 May 2, 2014 3 2:00 Riverside, California, United States
Win 1–0 Stephanie Houser Submission (rear-naked choke) Xplode Fight Series - Fire March 22, 2014 1 0:46 Valley Center, California, United States

Combat jiu-jitsu record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Division Date Notes
Win 2–0 Norway Celine Haga Submission (kimura) EBI 12 Flyweight July 29, 2017 Won the inaugural EBI Women's Flyweight Championship.
Win 1–0 United States Brooke Mayo Submission (triangle choke)

See also

References

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  51. Sherdog.com. "Xplode Fight Series - Wasteland".
  52. Sherdog.com. "Xplode Fight Series - Tornado".
  53. Sherdog.com. "Xplode Fight Series - Tidal Wave".
  54. Sherdog.com. "Xplode Fight Series - Fire".
  55. Sherdog.com. "Archangel Worldwide MMA - Tournament of Truth 2".

External links

Bellator Women's Flyweight Champions
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