[autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] kept her flyweight title reign in tact with another successful title defense on Saturday, this time against [autotag]Kate Jackson[/autotag] in the Bellator 235 headliner.
Macfarlane (11-0 MMA, 10-0 BMMA) was triumphant in front of her hometown crowd in Hawaii when she earned a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Jackson (11-4-1 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) in the main event showdown, which took place at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu and streamed on DAZN.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Macfarlane’s title defense over Jackson at Bellator 236.
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The end of the @BellatorMMA back-to-back in Hawaii is here with hometown hero Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (@ilimanator) set to put her flyweight title up vs. Kate Jackson (@kpajackson) in the #Bellator236 headliner. pic.twitter.com/XPnpqXE2UB
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) December 22, 2019
đ The champ is headed to the cage and she has delivered on her promise to bring us an incredible walkout tonight at #Bellator236.@ilimanator's championship belt is on the line up next LIVE on @DAZN_USA and @SkySports.#BellatorHawaii pic.twitter.com/KnBEvC5ajA
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) December 22, 2019
The women on stage during Macfarlaneâs walk out were native Hawaiians who are trying to stop a giant telescope from being built on a sacred mountain. Macfarlane has been to the mountain on the Big Island several times over the last few months. #Bellator236
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) December 22, 2019
Mauro Ranallo describes Jackson as "leaking like a political document." I've missed this guy. I really have.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) December 22, 2019
Big round one fir Macfarlane but Jackson game. Brit needs to keep it standing … Ilima so comfortable on the ground. https://t.co/C4ID6TusXM
— Gareth A Davies (@GarethADaviesDT) December 22, 2019
Macfarlane might be one of the most fun fighters to watch on the ground right now #Bellator236
— Alexander K Lee (@AlexanderKLee) December 22, 2019
20-18 Macfarlane. The Bellator champion is exactly as Jackson described her: Relentless.
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) December 22, 2019
Anyone else notice that "heavyweight" is misspelled on the Bellator canvas?
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) December 22, 2019
Ilima is world class and Kate is super tough. What a fun fight.
— Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) December 22, 2019
Macfarlane opens Round 4 by getting a takedown and eventually gets Jackson's back. She locks in an armbar and Jackson desperately holds on. She's able to survive and we are going into Round 5. #Bellator236
— Sherdog by Mandatory (@sherdogdotcom) December 22, 2019
How come they have #BellatorHawaii and donât have #UFCHawaii ??? đ¤đ¤
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) December 22, 2019
Say what you want about Kate Jackson, but she didn't come all this way to quit.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) December 22, 2019
"Sorry Ms. Jackson, Macfarlane's for real."
See, you just know Mauro has had that in his back pocket all night. Waiting until the last ten seconds of the fifth round to drop it is tremendous restraint.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) December 22, 2019
He said sorry Mrs.Jackson, McFarlane is for real đ #BellatorHawaii
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) December 22, 2019
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane joins A.J. McKee and Michael Page as the only fighters to start 10-0 in @BellatorMMA.
Her four consecutive title defenses are also most among current Bellator champs. #Bellator236
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) December 22, 2019
#Bellator236 results: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (@ilimanator) def. Kate Jackson via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-44) https://t.co/H7yU4d0LMP â to defend flyweight title pic.twitter.com/0vGr4zRhdR
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) December 22, 2019
#Bellator236 results: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane thrills Hawaiian crowd with win over Kate Jackson https://t.co/cnvWM5VSpH
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) December 22, 2019