Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (born April 2, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. She is most known for her tenure with Bellator MMA, where she was the inaugural Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion.

Background In her youth, Macfarlane played basketball, but her aspirations in the sport came to a stop due to series of knee injuries.

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.

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

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.

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.

In her third title defense, Macfarlane faced Veta Arteaga at Bellator 220 on April 27, 2019. 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. 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.

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

Post Title Reign After more than a year off due to knee surgery and rehab, Macfarlane made her return against Justine Kish on April 23, 2022, at Bellator 279. In an upset, she lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Macfarlane faced Bruna Ellen at Bellator 284 on August 12, 2022. At weigh ins, Macfarlane was three pounds over the division non-title fight limit at 129 lbs, resulting in her being a fined a percentage of her purse which went to Ellen and the bout proceeded at catchweight. She won the bout via unanimous decision.

Macfarlane faced Kana Watanabe on April 22, 2023, at Bellator 295. She won the close bout via split decision.

MacFarlane was scheduled to face reigning champion Liz Carmouche for the Bellator Women's Flyweight Championship on October 7, 2023, at Bellator 300. However at the weigh-ins, Macfarlane came in at 126.6 lb (after coming in at 127.4 lb in her first attempt), 1.6 pounds over the women's flyweight limit for a title fight. The commission gave her an additional hour to cut weight, but Macfarlane came in at 128.2 lb. As a result, the bout proceeded as a one way title bout, where in the event that Macfarlane won the fight, she would be ineligible for the championship and the title would be left vacant, while if Carmouche won it would still count as a title defense. MacFarlane lost the fight via leg kick TKO in the fifth round.

Global Fight League MacFarlane was scheduled to face Viviane Pereira on May 25, 2025 at GFL 2. However, the first two GFL events were postponed indefinitely.

Professional grappling career Macfarlane competed in a four-woman Combat Jiu-Jitsu tournament at EBI 12 on July 29, 2017 where she won both matches and the title.

Macfarlane returned to grappling at Submission Underground 21 on March 28, 2021 where she faced Jessica Eye. She won the match by submission in EBI overtime.

Macfarlane was promoted to black belt by Richie Martinez at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu San Diego on August 13, 2023.

Personal life In April 2020, Ilima-Lei, her sister Mahina, and one other anonymous woman filed a lawsuit against Punahou School, claiming that the school failed to take action after years of alleged sexual abuse by the school's assistant basketball coach, Dwayne Yuen. In the lawsuit, all three accuse Yuen of repeated sexual abuse, harassment, lewd gestures, and showing young girls pornographic photos. In December 2024, Yuen pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing child pornography.

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

Mixed martial arts Bellator MMA Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship (One time, inaugural) Four successful title defenses Second most submission wins in Bellator history (six) - tied with Michael Chandler and Neiman Gracie Most submission wins in Bellator Flyweight division history (six) Most stoppage wins in Bellator amongst women (seven) Most fights in Bellator Flyweight division history (14) MMAjunkie.com 2018 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Liz Carmouche TKO (leg kick) Bellator 300

San Diego, California, United States Win

Kana Watanabe Decision (split) Bellator 295

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Bruna Ellen Decision (unanimous) Bellator 284

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States Loss

Justine Kish Decision (unanimous) Bellator 279

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Loss

Juliana Velasquez Decision (unanimous) Bellator 254

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Kate Jackson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 236

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Veta Arteaga TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 220

San Jose, California, United States Win

Valérie Létourneau Submission (triangle choke) Bellator 213

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Alejandra Lara Submission (armbar) Bellator 201

Temecula, California, United States Win

Emily Ducote Submission (triangle armbar) Bellator 186

University Park, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Jessica Middleton Submission (armbar) Bellator 178

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Emily Ducote Decision (unanimous) Bellator 167

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Rebecca Ruth Submission (standing rear-naked choke) Bellator 157

St.Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Amber Tackett Submission (armbar) Bellator 148

Fresno, California, United States Win

Maria Rios Decision (split) Bellator 141

Temecula, California, United States Win

Katie Castro KO (punches) Xplode Fight Series – Hurricane

Valley Center, California, United States Win

Angela Hancock Submission (armbar) Xplode Fight Series - Wasteland

Valley Center, California, United States Win

LaToya Darby TKO (punches) Xplode Fight Series - Tornado

Valley Center, California, United States Win

Breanna Bland Submission (kimura) Xplode Fight Series - Tidal Wave

Valley Center, California, United States Win

Monique Martinez Decision (split) Archangel Worldwide MMA – Tournament of Truth 2

Riverside, California, United States Win

Stephanie Houser Submission (rear-naked choke) Xplode Fight Series - Fire

Valley Center, California, United States

Combat jiu-jitsu record