Ilima-Lei
Macfarlane will put her flyweight belt on the line against
Juliana
Velasquez in the headliner of a Bellator MMA event on Dec.
10.
Sherdog.com confirmed the booking with a promotion official
following an initial report from
ESPN. The card is expected to take place at the Mohegan Sun
Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut and air on CBS Sports Network.
Unbeaten in 11 professional appearances – all but one of which have
occurred under the Bellator banner – Macfarlane will be making her
fifth 125-pound title defense. After claiming the inaugural crown
with a fifth-round submission of Emily
Ducote at Bellator 186, “The Ilimanator” has vanquished
Alejandra
Lara, Valerie
Letourneau, Veta
Arteaga and Kate
Jackson in succession. Only Jackson made it to the final horn
against the 30-year-old Team Hurricane Awesome representative.
Velasquez has been victorious in her first 10 professional outings.
Five of those wins have come in Bellator competition, including a
three-round verdict over Bruna Ellen
in her most recent bout at Bellator 236 on Dec. 21.