Alejandra Lara hopes win at Bellator 235 would earn Ilima Lei-Macfarlane rematch

HONOLULU – Alejandra Lara wants another crack at the champ.

The Colombian fighter is out to make a statement in her next outing in hopes to earn another shot at Bellator flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. Lara (8-3 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) is scheduled to take on former title challenger Veta Arteaga during the main card of Bellator 235 on Friday night in Hawaii.

Lara believes she’s in a good position to make the claim for getting the next title shot at 125 pounds.

“Yeah, I hope that happens (get next title shot), and I think this bout is good for me given that she’s a former title challenger,” Lara told MMA Junkie. “And well, it all depends on the result of the fight, but I know if I do something spectacular, the possibility of getting the rematch for the title will be very big.

“I would 100 percent love to get the rematch. I now feel completely different. I have so much more experience and I’m just much more prepared to take the fight.”

The last time Lara met the champ was in the main event of Bellator 201 back in the summer of 2018. Lara lost the bout via armbar in round three. Since their fight, Lara has gone 1-1, but with a win over Arteaga, she would have back-to-back wins.

The Lobo Gym product insists she’s a much better fighter today.

“I don’t feel like my strength is my striking anymore,” Lara explained. “My style has changed a lot and I feel like my wrestling and jiu-jitsu base has improved a lot to a level where I don’t feel like a striker or a grappler. I’m at a level where I’m comfortable everywhere. I’ve been correcting certain errors that were seen in my previous fights and I think that’s something people will notice in this fight (with Arteaga).”

Lara also feels she’s improved in aspects outside of fighting itself, which could prove to be game changers in a rematch with the champion.

“I feel like in the first fight (with Macfarlane) there were a lot of factors in the lack of experience,” Lara said. “I made a lot of mistakes like in the weight-cut, and I know that influenced the fight, so the changes have been from that aspect of preparation and also technical changes. I do think the result now would be much different.”

On the flip side, Lara doesn’t think there’s been many changes with Macfarlane, who’s unbeaten and has defended her title twice since beating Lara.

“No, she hasn’t changed her style much,” Lara said. “We all know what her strengths are. Obviously, she’s a very respectable fighter and there’s a reason why she’s held onto that title, but I don’t feel like it’s unreachable. I do feel I can win that fight.”

Although Lara might have her eyes on flyweight gold, she understands she has a tough task in front of her and is in no way looking past Arteaga. The 25-year-old fighter knows what her opponent of Friday night will be bringing to the table.

“Looking at Veta’s style, she always moves forward, she’s very intense, and maintains a very strong rhythm,” Lara said. “I think it’s a very good match because I feel like I needed someone who will let me showcase everything I’ve been working on in the striking and in other areas I wasn’t able to show in my last fight. So I feel like this matchup is really good for me. Also, we’re both former title challengers and I feel like the last fights I had before her were more of the tougher fighters in the division, so now I’m not sacred of anyone.”