Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

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Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Born (1990-04-02) April 2, 1990 (age 34)
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Other names The Ilimanator
Residence San Diego, California, United States
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Weight 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)
Division Flyweight
Reach 66+1/2 in
Fighting out of San Diego, California, United States
Team San Diego Combat Academy[1]
Rank Brown belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu
Years active 2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 12
Wins 11
By knockout 2
By submission 6
By decision 3
Losses 1
By decision 1
University San 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.[2] She is the inaugural and former Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion. As of March 29, 2021, she is #3 in the Bellator Women's pound-for-pound Rankings and #1 in the Bellator Women's Flyweight Rankings.[3]

Background

In her youth, Macfarlane played basketball, but her aspirations in the sport came to a stop due to series of knee injuries.[1] 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.[1] After earning her Bachelor Degree in 2013, she continued her education at SDSU to study Master of Arts in Liberal Studies.[4]

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.[1]

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.[5]

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.[6]

Bellator MMA

Following the bout with Castro, Macfarlane signed a three-fight contract with Bellator MMA.[7][1] 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.[8]

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.[9]

In her third title defense, Macfarlane faced Veta Arteaga at Bellator 220 on April 27, 2019.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12][13]

Macfarlane attempted her next defense against undefeated challenger Juliana Velasquez on December 10, 2020 at Bellator 254.[14] She lost the fight and her title via unanimous decision.[15]

Post Title Reign

After more then a year off due to knee surgery and rehab,[16] Macfarlane is scheduled to return against Justine Kish on April 23, 2022 at Bellator 279.[17]

Championships and accomplishments

Combat jiu-jitsu

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

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
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

[21][22][23][24][25]

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)

[26][27][28][29][30]

See also

References

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External links