Ilima Macfarlane has no doubts that, when Bellator introduces its inaugural women’s flyweight championship, she is going to be one half of the title fight.
What she knows beyond that, however, is pretty much nothing.
Macfarlane (6-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) said she has been patient with Bellator’s decision-making process, but after five consecutive wins with the promotion, she feels she deserves to know if the title is a realistic short-term goal.
“I haven’t heard anything directly from Bellator about when they’re going to be presenting the belt or who is going to be fighting for it,” Macfarlane told MMAjunkie. “I make money when I fight. If they’re going to make me sit until like December or whatever to fight for the belt, then I’m going to have to ask them for another fight. I don’t want to wait that long.”
Bellator recently announced the signing of six new members to its women’s 125-pound division, including former UFC title challenger Valerie Letourneau (8-6 MMA, 0-0 BMMA). Placing Letourneau into an immediate championship contest against Macfarlane would have been acceptable, but instead Letourneau was booked against Emily Ducote at Bellator 181 in July.
Fresh off a first-round submission win over Jessica Middleton at Bellator 178 in April, Macfarlane said she will participate in grappling competitions in the coming months before determining her next move in MMA. That would give time for the Letourneau-Ducote fight to play out and potentially set up her next foe.
Although an extended break from fighting isn’t her first option, Macfarlane said she understands why the Bellator brass would want to build up a legitimate contender that will have momentum within the organization going into a title fight.
“Obviously I’m the leader of the division, but they just had a couple signings recently, and I just don’t see them automatically throwing one of their new signees into a title fight,” Macfarlane said. “I feel like they have to give them a fight first. I think they’re going to be fighting the other girls in the division at least once before they announce an opponent for the belt.”
For more on Bellator’s upcoming schedule, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.
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