Ilima-Lei Macfarlane Says Liz Carmouche Release Ensures She Won’t Fight In The UFC

Bellator MMA Women’s Flyweight Champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane defends the gold against Kate Jackson in the main event of Bellator 236.

Liz Carmouche was recently let go by the UFC while doing promotional work for the organization and Macfarlane says a move like that ensures that she will never fight for the UFC.

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”It’s never been a desire of mine to go over there, honestly, and after what happened to Liz, it just kind of re-affirmed why I never wanted to go over there,” she said to MMA Fighting. “I’m very happier where I am now, and I’ll be even happier if I can fight alongside my sister in arms.”

Macfarlane is arguably one of Bellator’s biggest stars and at least publicly, no interest has been shown in her by the UFC at this time. 

Carmouche and Macfarlane both share similar gyms, training partners and coaches, but don’t expect to see those folks work their corner of the duo were to battle each other.

”Our coaches are like, ‘We’re not going to corner you guys. We’re going to be sitting in the audience eating popcorn,’” Macfarlane said.

Bellator 236 takes place on Saturday, December 21 from the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii with Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and Kate Jackson headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which streams live on DAZN.

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