UNBEATEN ILIMA-LEI MACFARLANE FACES HER ‘TOUGHEST MATCH-UP’ AT BELLATOR 167

By YahooSports.com

There’s no doubt in Bellator flyweight up and comer Ilima-Lei Macfarlane that her June submission win over Rebecca Ruth was the biggest step she’s taken so far in her young career.

Facing an opponent with more experience than her, and with a lot of build-up leading into the fight, Macfarlane was able to step up and achieve her third win in just over a year’s time.

“That fight had definitely been my biggest fight to date,” Macfarlane said to MMAWeekly.com. “I still get emotional whenever I watch it. Emotions were really running high with my coach being in the hospital, being under the big lights and it being my first televised fight.

“Going into that fight I was an underdog, hands down the strongest opponent I ever faced, and physically she was so hard to take down. I’m ecstatic I got the win. It’s a game changing fight for myself because in my eyes it legitimized me as a fighter.”

Despite the pressure of the fight, Macfarlane was able to stay focused on the bout itself, which is something she believes she’s always been able to do, regardless of circumstances.

“I always thought that I was a pretty level-headed fighter,” said Macfarlane. “I don’t let emotions take over. I’m always able to follow instructions from my corner and everything. I am able to turn it on and off, and it’s never been a problem.”

Macfarlane (3-0) will step up again against a very game opponent when she takes on Emily Ducote (4-1) in a main card 125-pound bout at Bellator 167 on Saturday in Thackerville, Okla.

“I’ve been following Emily since her first Bellator fight,” Macfarlane said. “Emily came out and destroyed (Bruna Vargas). She impressed me in her next fight too. It doesn’t matter if you’re way bigger than her or if Bellator is pumping you up or whatever – she just goes out there and gets the job done.

“As a fighter, she’s definitely stylistically my toughest match-up because our styles are very similar. We’re both wrestlers, we both have solid Jiu-Jitsu, and both have solid striking. She’s my toughest opponent to date.”

For Macfarlane, going undefeated in 2016 means only one thing left for her to do: go for a title in 2017 should Bellator create one for the flyweight division.

“I’m a take it fight-by-fight kind of gal, but obviously I want that belt,” said Macfarlane. “I thought they were going to crown a champion this year, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, but the ultimate goal is to get that belt. So a title shot is my goal for 2017.”