Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (born April 2, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the flyweight division of Bellator MMA.[1] She is the inaugural and current Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion.

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Born (1990-04-02) April 2, 1990
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Other namesThe Ilimanator
ResidenceSan Diego, California, United States
NationalityAmerican
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[1]
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)
DivisionFlyweight
Reach66 1⁄2 in (169 cm)
Style10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Wrestling
Fighting out ofSan Diego, California, United States
TeamSan Diego Combat Academy[2]
RankBrown belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total11
Wins11
By knockout2
By submission6
By decision3
Losses0
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

In her youth, Macfarlane played basketball, but her aspirations in the sport came to a stop due to series of knee injuries.[2] Macfarlane graduated 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 Bachelor Degree in 2013.[2] After earning her Bachelor Degree in 2013, she continued her education at SDSU to study Master of Arts in Liberal Studies.[3]

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.[2]

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.[4]

Bellator MMA

Following the bout with Castro, Macfarlane signed a three-fight contract with Bellator MMA.[5][2] 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.

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.[6]

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.[7]

In her third title defense, Macfarlane faced Veta Arteaga at Bellator 220 on April 27, 2019.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10][11]

Championships and accomplishments

Combat jiu-jitsu
  • Eddie Bravo Invitational
    • Combat Jiu-Jitsu Women's Flyweight Championship (One time, inaugural, current)

Mixed martial arts
  • Bellator MMA
    • Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship (One time, inaugural, current)
      • Four successful title defenses
    • Second most submission wins in Bellator history (6) - tied with Michael Chandler and Neiman Gracie
    • Most wins in Bellator amongst women (10)[12]
    • Most wins in Bellator Flyweight division history (10)[12]

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
11 matches 11 wins 0 losses
By knockout 2 0
By submission 6 0
By decision 3 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
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

[14][15][16][17][18]

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
Win2–0 Celine HagaSubmission (kimura)EBI 12FlyweightJuly 29, 2017Won the inaugural EBI Women's Flyweight Championship.
Win1–0 Brooke MayoSubmission (triangle choke)

[19][20][21][22][23]

See also

References
  1. "Ilima-Lei Macfarlane". Tapology.
  2. Dave Meltzer (April 27, 2019). "After storybook night, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane returns to reality to defend accidental title". mmafighting.com.
  3. "Ilima-Lei Macfarlane".
  4. "Video spurs probe into Xplode's unsanctioned MMA events". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
  5. "Ilima Macfarlane: 'Soccer mom' KO video not the reason I got a Bellator contract". MMAjunkie. 2015-08-30. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
  6. Bryan Tucker (June 29, 2018). "Bellator 201 Results: Macfarlane vs. Lara". mmafighting.com.
  7. "Bellator 213 Results: Macfarlane vs Létourneau". mmafighting.com. December 15, 2018.
  8. Marc Raimondi (January 23, 2019). "Rory MacDonald vs. Jon Fitch title fight, Bellator grand prix first round slated for April". mmafighting.com.
  9. Nolan King (October 3, 2019). "Ilima Lei-Macfarlane gets opponent for Bellator's December return to Hawaii". mmajunkie.com.
  10. Tristen Critchfield (February 10, 2020). "Bellator Re-Signs Champs Douglas Lima, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane to Multi-Year Extensions". sherdog.com.
  11. Steven Marrocco (February 10, 2020). "Douglas Lima, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane re-up with Bellator". mmafighting.com.
  12. Mike Bohn (December 22, 2019). "Bellator 236 post-event facts: A.J. McKee's record-book takeover nearly complete". mmajunkie.com.
  13. Fernanda Prates (January 5, 2019). "MMAjunkie's 2018 'Breakout Fighter of the Year': Champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane's refreshing aloha". mmajunkie.com.
  14. "Ilima-Lei MacFarlane - MMA Fighter Profile - Bellator.Spike.com".
  15. "Xplode Fight Series - XFS (A2M Entertainment, Inc.) - MMA Promoter Page - Tapology".
  16. "Ilima-Lei Macfarlane - MMA - Awakening Fighters".
  17. "Ilima MacFarlane : Official MMA Fight Record (6-0-0)".
  18. Sherdog.com. "Xplode Fight Series - Hurricane".
  19. Sherdog.com. "Xplode Fight Series - Wasteland".
  20. Sherdog.com. "Xplode Fight Series - Tornado".
  21. Sherdog.com. "Xplode Fight Series - Tidal Wave".
  22. Sherdog.com. "Xplode Fight Series - Fire".
  23. Sherdog.com. "Archangel Worldwide MMA - Tournament of Truth 2".
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