Bellator MMA Women’s Flyweight Champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane successfully defended her title against Alejandra Lara at Bellator 201.
For her next title defense, a native Hawaiian in Macfarlane would like to see Bellator MMA make its way to Hawaii.
“I’ve talked to the staff at Bellator, and of course everyone wants to go to Hawaii,” Macfarlane told MMA Junkie. “I think it just comes down to logistics. Everyone wants to figure it out. The tourism bureau is giving problems. The UFC tried doing it, so I think it just comes down to the logistics. There’s no doubt in my mind that everyone wants to do a Bellator Hawaii, so we’ve just got to find a way to make it happen.”
The promotion has never run in Hawaii before, but may have obstacles in their way like the UFC has been dealing with for trying to do the same thing in recent years.
Scott Coker is the Bellator MMA President and while he knows it is going to be tough to get to Hawaii, but the president believes there is a way to get the job done.
“The amount of talent that’s come out of Hawaii is pretty impressive,” Coker said. “We’ve always wanted to go there; it’s just the timeframe that’s challenging. You’ve got it on a Friday, and now you have to promote it at 3 o’clock in the afternoon – that makes it tough. But if there’s a way to do it, we will find a way to do it.”
It is unknown at this time whom Macfarlane will defend the gold against next, but UFC veteran Valerie Letourneau seems to be the front runner.
