Ilima-Lei Macfarlane makes one final pitch for flyweight grand prix after Bellator 295 win

HONOLULU – Ilima-Lei Macfarlane thought she knew exactly how she wanted to end her career. She wanted a flyweight title fight against her friend and former training partner, Liz Carmouche, and that’s what she called for inside the cage after her hard-fought unanimous decision win over Kana Watanabe on Saturday at Bellator 295.

Then Macfarlane (13-2 MMA, 12-2 BMMA) was asked about a possible Bellator flyweight grand prix during her post-fight news conference and with some time to think things through, her mind changed.

“Yeah, Uncle Scott, we want to do a frickin’ grand prix,” Macfarlane told MMA Junkie and other reporters, addressing Bellator president Scott Coker. “Now that you guys are done with the bantamweight (grand prix) – congrats, Patchy – let’s do it. We haven’t done a women’s grand prix in any division, and I think it just makes sense that the flyweight division is the way to go. I’ve been calling for one since 2019, I think. Yeah, I think that would be super cool.”

Macfarlane, who was the inaugural Bellator flyweight champ with four title defenses to her credit, entered fight week already talking about retirement, specifically hoping that fight could take place in Hawaii before the year ends.

As it turns out, that timeline is flexible if it means partaking in a grand prix.

“I would be down. A million dollars is pretty sweet,” said Macfarlane, who won her second fight in a row. “To be honest, I have been thinking about retirement more seriously, because I do want to start a family soon. But a million dollars does sound pretty cool, so I can put baby making on hold for that. …

“I should’ve called that out on the mic, but I was staring at Liz. So, let’s do a grand prix.”

It’s more likely that Macfarlane will get her original wish of a title fight with Carmouche, which is what Coker said he expects to happen. Macfarlane said she feels good physically coming out of her win over Watanabe.

So if that is the case, she’d like that to happen sooner than later.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 295.