Ilima-Lei Macfarlane will look to make it three straight title defenses when she returns to action in April against Veta Arteaga.
Hawaiian star Ilima-Lei Macfarlane will return to action in April, the promotion announced during Saturday’s Bellator 214 broadcast. When she does, she’ll defend her title against Veta Arteaga in the promotion’s recently unveiled San Jose card. The fight will serve as the co-main event of the evening, with Rory MacDonald vs. Jon Fitch for the welterweight title in the main event.
That fight will also be part of the promotion’s welterweight grand prix.
For Macfarlane (9-0) it’s a chance to defend her title for the third consecutive time. The undefeated champion is coming off the biggest win of her career, having defended the belt in her home state of Hawaii at Bellator 213. That third-round submission of Valerie Letourneau was arguably her best performance to date. It also represented the best the division had to offer in terms of competition.
Macfarlane silenced her doubters with the win. And she will no doubt be a heavy favorite against Arteaga.
Veta Arteaga (5-2) won two straight in 2018, picking up wins over former title contender Emily Ducote and Bellator Kickboxing champ Denise Kielholtz. She’s spent the bulk of her pro career with Bellator, with her two losses coming to Bruna Ellen and Anatasia Yankova.
Bellator: MacDonald vs. Fitch takes place April 27 at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA.
