MMA

Bellator 186’s Ilima-Lei MacFarlane Talks Difficulties Dating, Runs Down 125 Pound Division

James Lynch,Sean Ross SappOctober 28, 2017, 10:00 am

Bellator will have its first Flyweight Championship fight in seven years at Bellator 186.

Ilima-Lei MacFarlane has separated herself from the pack during her Bellator run, winning five fights over her two year run. Including amateur fights, MacFarlane sits at 11 unbeaten bouts, and will contend for the championship. According to MacFarlane, her dedication has perhaps prevented her from finding love. MacFarlane opened up to Fightful.com's James Lynch, who asked Ilima about a recent Twitter post.

Some dudes just can't handle being with a girl who fights, and that's ok. You're just a pussy.

— Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (@ilimanator) September 16, 2017

"It's definitely been very difficult for me dating," MacFarlane laughed. "Since I've started fighting I've had three very failed relationships. I was probably very jaded and bitter when I wrote that."

MacFarlane would also confirm an exclusive 2016 Fightful.com report that the company actually wanted to crown a new Flyweight Champion well before Bellator 186. In the same breath, she took aim at many names in the Bellator Women's Flyweight division and said that Emily Ducote, who she beat last year, was worthy of the title shot.

"I wasn't in the least bit concerned when it was delayed. Scott has always been an upstanding man and I feel that I have a good relationship with him and Bellator. I was not surprised when I found out it was (Emily). She was winning, staying active, she won both of her fights after ours. She stays close to fight weight and never says no to a fight. Obviously there were other candidates. Anastasia (Yankova) has never proved to us that she can make 125. Colleen Schneider got hurt and lost her fight to Kate Jackson. Emily made the most sense and she was the most deserving," said MacFarlane.

In the full interview, Ilma-Lei MacFarlane (6-0) discusses her upcoming vacant flyweight title fight against Emily Ducote (6-2) at Bellator 186 on November 4. Ilima also talks about how this matchup came together, her training camp and her dating stories living in California. Fightful.com will have full coverage of Bellator 186 as it occurs.