Ilima-Lei Macfarlane Returns To Hawaii In December With Bellator
Bellator female flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane will return to Hawaii for her next title defense, taking on Kate Jackson in December. The bout was first reported by KHON2 out of Hawaii.
Macfarlane and Jackson will serve as the headline fight on December 21 from the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.
Macfarlane (10-0) has fought nine times for Bellator, coming out on top of each one. She has defended the title three times, including in late 2018 in Honolulu vs. Valerie Letourneau.
Related: Bellator 213 Results: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane Shines For Hawaii
This past April, Macfarlane scored a third round TKO victory over Veta Arteaga, adding to her defense vs. Alejandra Lara from 2018. She captured the title in 2017 by submitting Emily Ducote.
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane Defends Her Title Against Veta Arteaga
Jackson (11-3-1) has won 3-1 over four Bellator fights since appearing on The Ultimate Fighter 23. She advanced to the semifinals of the series.
Kate Jackson Performance Replay From TUF Against Ashley Yoder
Back in June, Jackson bested Lena Ovchynnikova.
Scott Coker Wants Fedor Farewell In Russia
If he can make it happen, Scott Coker is planning on sending Fedor Emelianenko out in his native country of Russia.
In an interview with RT Sport during Bellator 228 fight week, Coker said that plans are in place for the 43-year-old former heavyweight champion to compete one final time.
“Fighting in Russia is definitely something we’d like to have happen,” Coker said. “We think Fedor will be a great fighter, obviously, because of his history, to launch us in the territory.”
Related: Bellator Inks Fedor To New Fight Contract
Emelianenko (38-6) has gone just 2-2 since signing with Bellator, including a devastating loss to Ryan Bader for the heavyweight title. He is also expected to be part of the Rizin New Year’s Eve event.
“I think the plan was to have Fedor fight two times and then go to Russia,” Coker said. “I think this will probably be his final match. This’ll be his retirement fight. If people want to see Fedor, the greatest fighter in the history of MMA, especially the greatest heavyweight of all-time, they’ve got to com to the fight and see him live.”
Coker did add that they are talking “years away” from all of this going down.
“Probably a year away, or two years away,” he said. “Who knows. We’re definitely working on his first fight, which will be done here soon.”