Bellator Inks Contract Extensions With Cheick Kongo & Ilima-Lei MacFarlane

Bellator MMA has announced that they have signed by heavyweight fighter Cheick Kongo and women’s flyweight fighter Ilima-Lei MacFarlane to contract extensions.

Kongo (25-10-2) is currently riding a three fight winning streak in the promotion, with those wins coming over former heavyweight champion Alexander Volkov, UFC veteran Vinicius Queiroz and Tony Johnson. Kongo has previously challenged for the Bellator Heavyweight Champion, losing a decision to then champion Vitaly Minakov at Bellator 115.

Kongo is expected to be a part of the title picture heading into 2017, as the Bellator Heavyweight Title is current vacant after champion Vitaly Minakov was stripped of the championship. He told Fightful.com earlier this month that he doesn't see himself fighting too far into the future. 

MacFarlane (4-0-0) has already fought three times in Bellator MMA, defeating Maria Rios, Amber Tackett and Rebecca Ruth. MacFarlane is best known for the infamous “soccer mom fight” at Xplode Fight Series: Hurricane, where she defeated Katie Castro. Castro came in the cage dressed like a “soccer mom," and was promptly beaten down.

MacFarlane is expected to be paired up soon with female star Anastasia Yankova, MacFarlane has been pushing for the fight via social media and interviews.

While both Kongo and MacFarlane have no future fights officially announced as publication.