Ilima-Lei Macfarlane is looking at her next 4 fights as her last chapter in MMA.
The former Bellator women’s flyweight champion thinks her days in MMA are numbered and plans to make the most of them while she looks to close out her career.
Macfarlane (11-2 MMA, 10-2 BMMA) hopes to regain her title in the span of her contract, complete her Bellator deal, and walk away from the sport of MMA.
“I have four fights left on my contract, I would say the ideal scenario is to win these next three (and fight for the title).
“Our division is kind of crazy, and it’s super deep right now. Everyone can make an argument to fight for the belt right now. So it would make sense that I would have to win at least two to get the title shot, or maybe even three considering how deep our division is. So if I win the next three, yes my fourth fight, that’s the one that’s like my retirement fight.”
Macfarlane, 32, says injuries with her knee and neck have contributed to her decision to want to retire at the end of her current Bellator deal. She wants to start a family and doesn’t see herself raising kids while managing a fighting career.
“I might possibly start having babies after this, so I just want to get through my contract as fast as possible,” Macfarlane said. “Right now, I say I want to stop fighting so that I can (raise my kids), because I say, ‘Where would I have the time to be a mom and be running the gym? And will I have time to train?’ But then you also see badasses like Miesha Tate coming back after having two kids and coming out of retirement. I think everything is possible.”
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