MMA
Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer 5y

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane defends Bellator title in front of home Hawaiian crowd

MMA

Bellator MMA became the first major MMA promotion to visit the state of Hawai'i since 2008 this week, and it did so behind Hawaiian flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. She did not let the promotion down.

Macfarlane (9-0) defended her 125-pound title for the second time on Saturday with a third-round submission against Valerie Letourneau (10-7). The championship fight headlined Bellator 213 in Honolulu, and capped off back-to-back Bellator events at Neil S. Blaisdell Center.

Letourneau tapped to a triangle choke at the 3:19 mark of the third round. The finish came after Macfarlane nearly locked in an armbar, then hammered Letourneau with elbows as she worked a submission.

"I stood the first two rounds, but in the third round, I was like, 'I'm going to play my game now. I'm not going to play her game,'" Macfarlane said.

Known as a submission grappler, Macfarlane chose to stand with Letourneau for most of the early rounds. She targeted the Canadian title challenger with leg kicks, while walking her down with the jab. Letourneau tried to keep Macfarlane guessing with a lot of outside movement, but she failed to land much offense of her own.

Once Macfarlane elected to take it to the floor, it wasn't much of a contest. Fighting out of San Diego, Macfarlane has finished six of her career nine wins via submission, including all three of her Bellator title fights.

Saturday's performance was special, obviously, because of where it took place. Macfarlane was born in Honolulu, but she had never fought professionally in the state prior to this weekend.

"I could feel it backstage before I walked out," Macfarlane said. "I was crying when I walked in tonight."

Letourneau, a former strawweight title challenger in the UFC, saw a two-fight win streak snapped.

Machida sneaks past Carvalho, eyes title shot

Former UFC champion Lyoto Machida (25-8) made a successful Bellator debut, defeating former middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho via split decision.

Judges awarded Machida the fight via scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 28-29. Immediately after the result was read, Machida said he would be ready to take on the winner of next month's 185-pound title fight between Gegard Mousasi and Rafael Lovato Jr.

"I want that belt, guys. I want to be a Bellator champion," Machida said. "I'll be ready for [Mousasi or Lovato Jr.]."

Machida, 40, won the fight despite possibly suffering a broken nose in the opening minutes. He ate a flush, counter right hand from Carvalho, which caused his nose to bleed the rest of the contest. Carvalho also scored a knockdown in the second round, although it appeared the knockdown was somewhat caused by Machida being off-balance.

Machida's best weapon on the feet was his rear leg kick. He also scored a handful of key takedowns, and moved to full mount in the third round.

Mousasi is scheduled to defend his title against Lovato on Jan. 26 in Los Angeles.

Gracie taps Ruth, advances to Grand Prix semifinals

Neiman Gracie (9-0) submitted Ed Ruth (6-1) with a rear-naked choke at 2:17 of the fourth round to advance to the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix semifinals.

Gracie, of New York, threatened Ruth with various submissions pretty much bell to bell. A three-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion, Ruth looked comfortable taking Gracie to the ground, but he constantly found himself in precarious positions once there.

In one second-round sequence, Gracie transitioned from an armbar to a back mount attempt to a triangle, all within a span of seconds.

Ruth, 28, did well escaping multiple submission attempts, but he looked tired from the effort by the fourth round. Gracie easily took him down in the opening minute, moved to the back and secured the eighth submission win of his career. He will face the winner of a 2019 matchup between Rory MacDonald and Jon Fitch in the next round.

"Since the day I was born, I have been proving everybody wrong," Gracie said. "I want my belt."

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