Ilima-Lei Macfarlane believes a flyweight grand prix may be next for her
Bellator President Scott Cocker is notorious for holding a grand prix to figure out who is the best fighter within a division. Now there’s a possibility that Bellator will host their first ever women’s grand prix within the flyweight division.
With Coker expressing interest in the tournament, Bellator flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-0) told MMA Junkie that she believes her next title defense could take place during a grand prix later this year.
“We said that I would probably fight in the fall, somewhere around there,” Macfarlane told MMA Junkie. “And there’s still talks about possibly doing a tournament for the flyweight division. So obviously my next fight depends on that, whether or not they go through with that. But we said that the timeline should be expected sometime around the fall or winter, which some people would consider as a long layoff – almost a year. But I’m cool with that.”
If her title defense does take place within the tournament, she hopes there’s a special format within the rules.
“I almost want to say that … only my fight should be five rounds,” Macfarlane said. “Because I don’t want those girls to like get the advantage of being able to fight five rounds (to prepare for me). So I’m thinking more from like a strategic point of view. … But I think I would prefer an eight-woman tournament, because that just means less fights to get that million dollars. I’m thinking of it more from a most efficient way possible to get a million dollars.”
Macfarlane has successfully defended her belt four times. Her most recent title defense came at Bellator 236 in her home state of Hawaii, in which she defeated Kate Jackson. Recently the undefeated champ signed a contract extension with Bellator.
