Bellator MMA returned to Hawai’i for the second year in a row and was headlined by local girl Ilima-Lei Macfarlane once again. Macfarlane defeated Kate Jackson via unanimous decision to successfully defend her flyweight world title for the fourth consecutive time, the most among current Bellator champions.
The undisputed champ used her platform to highlight Hawai’i and her culture. Ilima-Lei reenforced her support for the peaceful protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea and notably used all women to perform alongside her.
I wanted to use all wahine…it’s just very important to me to represent the mana wahine (female empowerment).
Really cool moment here in @ilimanator’s locker room when she came back with her belt! Congrats Champ!@BellatorMMA #BellatorHawaii pic.twitter.com/N90vgTr1zM
— Jenn Brown TV (@JennBrown) December 22, 2019
🍍 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