Bellator 178’s Ilima Macfarlane eyeing inaugural flyweight title, not Anastasia Yankova

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, who takes on Jessica Middleton in the co-main event of Friday night’s Bellator 178 event, explains why she no longer is interested in a fight with Anastasia Yankova

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane is a rising contender in a quickly developing Bellator women’s flyweight division. Macfarlane has the look, the skill, and is ready to take the reins in the women’s 125-pound division.

The 5-0 Macfarlane will look to take another step closer to that goal, as she takes on fellow undefeated flyweight Jessica Middleton in the co-main event of Bellator 178 on Friday night. While Bellator seems to be giving “The Ilimanator” a little bit of a push, the other remaining undefeated women’s 125-pounder in the organization is seemingly getting a bigger push in Anastasia Yankova.

Macfarlane had expressed interest in fighting Yankova last year, for the purity of competition, and perhaps to alleviate “sexual tension” between the two. Yankova defeated Eilina Kallionidou earlier this month at Bellator 176 via unanimous decision, but the bigger story was that once again, Yankova was put in a catchweight bout, and outside of the flyweight divisional weight limit. Plus, Yankova weighed in over the catchweight limit of the scheduled bout with Kallionidou.  If victorious against Middleton on Friday night, Yankova no longer interests Macfarlane in her future plans; at least in the world of fighting.

“Honestly, I was super turned off by that fight.” Macfarlane said in regards to Yankova’s Bellator 176 performance while appearing on the SFLC Podcast. “I don’t think there’s anymore sexual tension between us anywhere. I think that it was a shitty thing, that she didn’t make the catchweight, I think it’s a shitty thing that she got another catchweight fight, but on top of that, she didn’t even make that. So I was like ‘What the fu*k’?

“To her performance, I was like ‘wait, how did I ever call this girl out?’ How did I ever think this would be a good fight? I just think this is such a mismatch between me and her. I think that I’m on a different level. I don’t mean to sound like a cocky, jack-ass or anything but, girl, if you still want to still make out, I’m down, but as far as fighting goes, I think I would annihilate her.”

Macfarlane is very excited about the future of the Bellator women’s flyweight division, as an inaugural champion should be crowned sometime in 2017. Macfarlane sees Middleton as a difficult test due to the size (5’8) and reach (70 in.) disadvantage. Macfarlane is not looking past her opponent on Friday. In fact, she feels that with a win, or even a loss at Bellator 178, Macfarlane should be the front-runner for the inaugural championship at 125-pounds.

“It will solidify me as the front-runner for the belt,” Macfarlane said when speaking on what a victory on Friday will do for her career. “I was thinking even if I didn’t get the win, I’m still one of the top contenders for the belt. The good thing with this developing division is that even though you may have lost one, that it’s not the end of the world. Bellator does a really good job of getting you another fight after that. With this developing division, it’s pretty fair game. But I think with a win, I don’t think Scott Coker will have a choice, he’s going to have to fight me for the belt if I win (on Friday).”

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane has an open-ended prediction for her upcoming bout with Jessica Middleton on Friday night.

“You could see either a very methodical win, or you could see a super-crazy ass win. It depends on how I feel that day,” Macfarlane said.

Bellator 178 takes place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, with the main card airing on Spike TV.