Queen of the Islands: MMA Champ Ilima-lei Macfarlane
On Saturday, December 15, 2018, inside the packed Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii, the latest in a series of Bellator MMA events took place featuring one of the State’s favorite daughters Ilima-Lei MacFarlane who had returned home to defend her Bellator MMA Flyweight Title in the Main Event which aired on DAZN.com beginning at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT, with the preliminary bouts streaming across the Internet on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App.
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, came to San Diego, Calif. to complete her schooling at SDSU, San Diego State University where first she attained her Bachelor’s degree and then started work on her Masters. During this period, the former state of Hawaii Wrestling Champ trained at the local San Diego Combat Academy on Mission Gorge Road with her current coach Manolo “El Hurrican” Hernandez. After a major expansion, her gym changed its name to 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and instead of just working out to stay in shape, MacFarlane then became serious about fighting and in 2014 began her amateur career.
This development was certainly a departure from her earlier plans and of course, the folks back home were a bit bewildered. They had been helping with the finances to realize her dream of attaining an education and later that master’s degree in liberal arts and sciences, and now she was serious about making a stab at being a professional cage fighter.
“Not to discredit any of my early opponents. They were all valid opponents, states MacFarlane, but Rebecca Ruth was definitely my toughest opponent up to that time. She’s was super-gritty and wouldn’t go down without a battle…or she doesn’t really go down at all.”
MacFarlane’s parents were the first confidants she called after receiving her Masters and the conversation went something like this, “Hey, I know I just finished college and I should be getting a 9 to 5 job. But do you care if I start fighting instead?” To her astonishment, they were supportive and suggested, “Do it now, while you’re young, and then you can fall back on your degree after.”
One of the memorable quotes regarding Ilima-lei Macfarlane’s life choices: “If she’s an oddity in a game with so many damaged souls, it’s that she came from the right side of the tracks and had gone to all private schools.” So, what they were saying was, “She’s all about representing the well-adjusted.”
Another memorable quote comes from Macfarlane herself: “You keep trying until your heroes become your opponents.”
Another reflection from Macfarlane, “To be honest, I just wanted to be respected as a fighter, and remembered — oh yeah, that chick, she could scrap. Coming from Hawaii where it’s a hotbed of fighters, it’s funny because I’m not your typical fighter from Hawaii. I went to private schools all my life. I grew up in a really nice neighborhood. Most of the fighters in Hawaii, and I’m cool with all of them, are from the hardest parts of the island. They’re all from the Westside. So I’m kind of a black sheep in that sense. So I think it would be kind of cool to represent some of the private school kids who didn’t grow up fighting on the streets. I was a really good private school girl.”
“I am super-early on in my career, and I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities that other fighters wouldn’t have. And I think it’s the way my coach has handled my career. The connections we have made, amazing. Everything has worked out for the best. In women’s MMA you have to strike while the iron is hot. So yeah, I feel like I’m at the right place at the right time. It’s kind of unheard of to be signed to a big promotion company after just one big fight.”
In early September, Mayor Kirk Caldwell proclaimed September 17 as ‘Ilima-Lei Macfarlane” day in the City and County of Honolulu as part of a private presentation in his office. “It’s a real honor to present this special proclamation to Ilima today, calling it her day,” said the Mayor. “For me and I know for the people of Hawaii, we look for role models, and we want to show that we are as good as anyone in the world. She has shown that and even more. Setting an example for the youth of our community and for everybody. Also, before their return home, Valerie Letourneau and Macfarlane were honored at the yearly Hawaii Bowl game which took place on December 22, 2018. The game featured the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors taking on the high scoring Louisiana Tech Bulldogs who blew the game open in the 3rd quarter to win 31-14.
Macfarlane: “Even though I’m a (San Diego State) Aztec, I did grow up being a big fan of the Hawaiian Rainbow Warriors!”
Below are some of the messages Ilima-Lei Macfarlane sent to her fans after her big win. The final one was sent from Havana, Cuba where she was on Holiday and training at a local MMA facility.
A look back at 2018 with the ilimanator
“In 2018, I defended my belt twice. Bought my first new car. Got my Brown belt. Started a scholarship for young native girls. Met some celebrities. Met new family. Made new family. Adopted a dog. Wrote some love letters. Trained underwater. Shaved my head. Made a medicine bag. Fought in my hometown. Had an epic walkout experience. Threw some kicks. Threw some elbows. And I started seeing a therapist lol. But most importantly, I found love in so many places. The only reason for my success this year is because of the love I receive every day! On my way to Cuba right now to bring in 2019. MAHALO KE AKUA for this year and this life and the people in it.” ❤️. #ahuihou #top9of2018#wopilatunkasila#pineappleprincess #ilimanator
Her later reflections in regard to that fight in Hawaii: ilimanator
Happy Aloha Friday from Havana, Cuba.
That semi-retro photoshoot that I did in Hawaii a few months ago reminds me of this place. Vibrant colors, classic cars lining the streets, and that laid back island vibe everywhere. The internet is very limited here which forces you to maybe read a book, use a standard map to navigate or actually strike up a conversation—a difficult task with the very limited Spanish I know, but they appreciate the effort, and we end up communicating with lots of hand motions and laughter. I’ve eaten foods at five-star restaurants here but so far my favorite food has been a simple home-cooked meal of shredded pork and yucca potato by mi casa particular hostess, Mama Tamara. The locals are very friendly if you want interaction and the guys are not creepy. I feel completely safe at night wandering the dark streets alone as a woman (although maybe it’s my physique that deters attackers as this little boy pointed out to me when he saw my biceps 😂). Much of the colonial-style buildings are dilapidated, save for one room which a family of six probably lives in, but there is a beauty in the ruins. Havana so far is hauntingly nostalgic, yet the country is now in an arms race to catch up technologically with the rest of the world. I’m not sure if it makes me happy or saddens me to know that all of this will most likely be gone in the near future.
I have a few days left here which are filled with salsa lessons, el Museo de la Revolucion, a cooking class on traditional Cuban food, a tour with an economist, and a drag show. I could never forgive myself if I left Havana without seeing their Cuban Queens.
With love from Havana,
Ilima
Thoughts in regards to her fight in Hawaii: Congrats from everyone: Hau’oli Makahiki Hou from our Ohana to yours.
Likes on Instagram are at 5,681
Fast forward to the present: ilimanator Cuba was by far the most interesting country historically that I’ve ever visited. My favorite parts of the trip weren’t when I was in the fancy hotels or bars or partying amongst other foreigners…it was when I was sitting and talking story with the locals, trying to understand what it’s like to live here. Seeing the discrepancies between the lifestyles of the tourists and the locals didn’t make me feel sorry for Cubans that they seemed to have so little…it made me feel lame that we (Americans) require so much to be comfortable. With the rationed supplies they had, my host families always made sure that they prepared more than enough food for me. Everyone that I met thought it was the coolest thing ever that I was a luchadora and for most, I was the first Hawaiian they had ever met (many people asked if I was Mexican or Brazilian and were stoked when I said “estoy Hawaiiana”). And they all said that I better come back to visit because I have new familia in Havana, Cuba ❤️. I’ve been waiting this entire time to finally say this but … half of my heart is in Havana, ooh nah nah. Muchas gracias to my new Cuban fight familia, Yoel Box MMA gym for taking me in! These guys are very good kickboxers and taught me some really good techniques in the clinch. Then without warning, they put me through Shark Tank.
That’s so awesome: Hawaiian heart and soul sharing your Aloha. So proud of you!
Bellator returns to the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif. on Friday, March 29, 2019, with an exciting welterweight clash, as former 170-pound world champion Andrey Koreshkov (21-3) squares off against Southern California native Lorenz Larkin (20-7, 1 NC) in the Main Event.
Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, December 14, and will be available at the Pechanga box office, as well as Bellator.com, Ticketmaster.com and Pechanga.com. The event will be broadcast live and free on the Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and simulcast on DAZN.com, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The Pineapple Princess” has been a reflection of perfection thus far in her MMA career and without a doubt she is a sterling role model for her home state of Hawaii.
Macfarlane now holds an impressive (undefeated) record of 9-0 (six by submission, two by decision, one knockout) and has established herself as one of the very best flyweights in the world today.
The atmosphere for an event in Hawaii was already going to be big enough to make it the biggest fight of her young career but adding an opponent of such experience as Letourneau made it even more of a challenge, a challenge Macfarlane happily embraced.
Instant replay of that fight in Honolulu:
Round one was a bit of a feeling out process. Both women seemed tentative at first, but overall Ilima-Lei Macfarlane was able to get off the more effective strikes.
The undefeated Hawaiian champion locked up Letourneau in a triangle choke early in round three. Then, while holding the Canadian in this submission hold, began unleashing some brutal elbows from off her back. Eventually the pressure of the submission hold mixed with the nasty strikes forced Valerie Letourneau to tap out. After a closely contested second round, Ilima-Lei was able to take control in round three.
