[autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] implemented her world-class ground game somewhere around the middle of the fourth round of her Bellator 254 main event against [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] on Thursday night.
Unfortunately for her, Velasquez (10-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) flustered Macfarlane (11-1 MMA, 10-1 BMMA) for the first three-and-a-half rounds, and she regained control of the fight in the fifth. And with that, Velasaquez won the highly anticipated battle of unbeatens and won the Bellator women’s flyweight championship via unanimous decision.
Velasquez earned judges’ scorecards of 48-47, 49-46, and 48-47 to take the title at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Velasquez had a height and reach advantage and fights from a southpaw stance. It became clear in the opening round, as the fighters sized one another up, that this was going to be a difficult puzzle. While there wasn’t much action in the opening round, Velasquez parried Macfarlane’s attempts at closing the distance and landed occasional push kicks, as well.
By late in the second round, Macfarlane managed to close the distance and went for a trip, but Velasquez shifted her weight and ended up in top position. Macfarlane hooked Velasquez close and didn’t allowed her foe any offense from top.
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By the third, the pattern was established. Macfarlane started to wear the results of her attempts to rush in on her face. Velasquez punctuated the round with a quick jumping knee.
In the fourth, Macfarlane finally hit paydirt, scoring a takedown with about two minutes left and raining down punches to the head and torso over and over. It was the strongest sustained offense for either fighter in the fight as Velasquez was bloodied by the assault, but never allowed the champ an opening for a submission attempt.
Macfarlane pushed the pace in the fifth, knowing the needed the finish, but after a standoff in the clinch for about a minute, Velasquez reasserted control as she cruised the rest of the way.
“I’m very excited to finally be the champion, I want to thank my team, my family, my brother,” Velasquez said. “My goal not only to be a champion with the way I perform in the ring but to carry the belt with honor.”
Macfarlane, for her part, had her run as inaugural women’s 125-pound champ come to an end. She held the title since Nov. 3, 2017 and successfully defended it four times.
She was gracious in defeat.
“She’s the champion, she deserves it,” Macfarlane said,
The women’s flyweight title fight was the main event of Bellator 254, which was held Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. and aired on CBS Sports Network.
Complete Bellator 254 results:
- Ilima-Lei Macfarlane def. Juliana Velasquez via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 48-47) — wins Bellator women’s flyweight title
- Magomed Magomedov def. Matheus Mattos via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
- Linton Vassell def. Ronny Markes via TKO (punches) — Round 2, 3:37
- Romero Cotton def. Justin Sumter via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 1, 3:36
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Shamil Nikaev def. Kemran Lachinov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Grant Neal def. Maurice Jackson via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 2, 3:59
- Cody Law def. Kenny Champion via TKO (punches and elbows) — Round 3, 4:44
- Billy Goff def. Robson Gracie Jr. via TKO (punches and elbows) — Round 2, 1:46