Why this pic brings Bellator’s Ilima McFarlane to tears
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane: “Seeing how happy he is in this moment is irreplaceable. He was right about me when I first walked into that gym.”
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane went 5-0 as an amateur in MMA, has gone 8-0 as a pro, and is 2-0 in EBI Combat Jiu-Jitsu, winning the inaugural EBI Women’s Flyweight Championship.
However, nothing is ever entirely normal in MMA. Ever.
MacFarlane’s pro debut was in the highly controversial Xplode Fight Series, vs. Soccer Mom. Yah, the MMA fighter roughing up Soccer Mom in the highly viral video was Ilima.
Her next fight was a Split Decision win in Bellator.
I was nervous,” said MacFarlane to John Morgan for MMAjunkie. “This is my Bellator debut. It’s actually my first fight with a big promotion. So, my main goal was, win or lose, I just wanted to put on a good fight and prove to everybody that I’m a legitimate fighter, especially after my pro debut, which I’m sure everybody has seen. So, I just wanted to put on a good fight, and from what everybody is telling me, it was a great fight. I’m really happy with the outcome.
MacFarlane has been with Bellator ever since, three years on Tuesday. ‘The Ilimanator’ used the occasion to reflect, and to offer thanks to the beloved San Diego Combat Academy trainer Manolo Hernandez.
“Still one of my favorite pictures of all time,” she wrote on Instagram. “Three years ago I made my Bellator MMA debut as a prelim fight with a 1-0 record – my one win being the notorious soccer mom KO. People only knew me because of that viral video and there were plenty of critics in the audience watching me. I went on to win by split decision and from there I slowly worked my way up the ranks to become Bellator’s first ever Female Flyweight World Champion with an undefeated record of 8-0. Since the beginning there was only one person who had always believed in me – Manolo. And that is why I love this picture. It shows the raw emotion, the disbelief and the RELIEF that I had hearing my name and getting my hand raised. But Manolo’s reaction in the back is what really brings me to tears. Seeing how happy he is in this moment is irreplaceable. He was right about me when I first walked into that gym. Also, that was the fastest I’ve ever seen him run lol. I love you my Day #1!”
Undefeated at everything, Ilima is regularly asked if she’s headed for the UFC?
Why would I want to leave the people who believed in me and signed me from the beginning? replies Macfarlane. I don’t think I would’ve even got a second look from other promotions. [Bellator President Scott Coker] was the one that believed in me.
I’m Bellator through and through.