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‘Super shame’: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane opens up on missing weight for Bellator 284

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane has been enduring a rough patch lately.

Macfarlane (11-2 MMA, 10-2 BMMA) weighed in three pounds over the division’s non-title fight limit at 129 for her flyweight matchup against Bruna Ellen on Friday’s Bellator 284 main card at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

The fight will proceed after Ellen (6-3 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) agreed to take a percentage of Macfarlane’s purse. Macfarlane, a former Bellator flyweight champion, posted Instagram to explain why she missed weight and expressed gratitude to Ellen for accepting the fight.

“Super shame. First and last time I’ll ever miss weight. I’m sorry Bruna for not being professional and making our contracted weight. People don’t understand what a difficult situation this puts you in, but you’re a gangster for accepting the fight and I appreciate you for doing so 🙏🏽.

My body has been going through a lot of changes in the last two years and this week it told me to fuck right off. I’m learning to listen to it, especially as the end of this chapter draws near. I’m going to take a long break after this fight to allow myself time to heal and reassess things. But like I said, this is the one and only time I will ever miss weight. Mark my words.

We got a fight tomorrow night ladies and gentlemen, thanks to Bruna. She’s the real MVP.”

After going unbeaten for 11 straight fights and defending her Bellator flyweight title four times, the 32-year-old has lost back-to-back bouts. Macfarlane was dethroned by Juliana Velasquez at Bellator 254, then lost a unanimous decision to ex-UFC fighter Justine Kish at Bellator 279 in April in Honolulu in front of her home fans.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 284.

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Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie