The comparisons between Sumiko Inaba and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane have been obvious, and come frequently: two highly skilled Hawaiian flyweights, as dangerous inside the cage as they are beautiful and gracious outside of it.
Both started their careers undefeated, which is where Inaba enters Bellator 295 this Saturday: a perfect 5-0, taking on Veta Arteaga in the toughest test of the Hawaiian’s career to date.
With Macfarlane openly talking about the end of her career for some time now, this could be the moment the baton is passed. And if that is indeed the case, Inaba is ready for it, she told Cageside Press on Wednesday, during the promotion’s media day for Bellator 294 and 295.
“Oh you know 100%, I would love that,” Inaba told us. “She’s paved the way, literally, for us. And especially in Bellator, being as good as she is and how well she did, it’s just an honor, and I’m grateful for that. It’s sad of course to hear her talk about it coming to an end. It’s amazing to see how well she did and what she did for this sport in Hawaii, and I’m just proud to be behind her.”
Inaba, ranked #9 at flyweight, would go on to tell reporters that going for gold was always the plan.
“My amateur career, I did pretty good too. I had the confidence. This has always been my dream, to one day fight for the belt,” she stated. “And I know I’m on the right path.”
The only surprise in her journey thus far was the COVID era, and fighting in that environment. That’s something the Hawaiian believes “helped me, to be honest, not fighting in front of a crowd for the first couple of fights. That was cool. And now having a huge crowd that has so much energy behind it is even more amazing.”
The only other surprise might be how fast things have been going, Inaba added, “but I can’t complain. I love it. This is what I love to do.”
Watch the full Bellator 295 media day appearance by Sumiko Inaba above.
