December 21 will mark another homecoming for Bellator flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane.
A proud native Hawaiian, Macfarlane (10-0 MMA, 9-0 BMMA) will look to defend her title for the fourth time against rising British challenger Kate Jackson (11-3-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA).
A promotion official confirmed the news with MMA Junkie following a report from KHON2 News.
The event, which is not yet numbered, is expected to take place Dec. 21 at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. No other fights have been announced for the card at this time and broadcast details unknown.
Macfarlane, 29, competed in Bellator’s Hawiian debut weekend in December 2018. “The Ilimanator” headlined Bellator 213, the second event of a doubleheader, where she defeated former UFC title challenger Valerie Letourneau by third-round submission. The victory thrilled the local crowd, who exploded upon the tap from Macfarlane’s Canadian opponent.
In her only fight since her successful homecoming, Macfarlane sliced open Veta Arteaga en route to a third-round doctor’s stoppage at Bellator 220 in April.
When she enters enemy territory, England’s Jackson will look to spoil the show and hand Macfarlane her first career loss. “The Ultimate Fighter 23” alumni lost to Tatiana Suarez in the semifinals of the reality series and was not granted a UFC contract afterwards.
After a one-off bout for a local British promotion, Jackson signed with Bellator, where she has won three out of her four in-cage appearances. At Bellator 222 in June, Jackson defeated Lena Ovchynnikova by first-round doctor’s stoppage.
