Macfarlane vs Watanabe

Who won Macfarlane vs Watanabe?

Ilima Lei Macfarlane beat Kana Watanabe by split decision in their 3 round contest during the co-main event of Bellator 295, on Saturday 22nd April 2023 at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.

The scorecards were announced as 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 in favor of the winner Ilima Lei Macfarlane.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Women’s Flyweight division, which meant the weight limit was 125 pounds (8.9 stone or 56.7 KG).

Macfarlane vs Watanabe stats

Ilima Lei Macfarlane stepped into the octagon with a record of 12 wins, 2 losses and 0 draws, 2 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 6 by submission.

Kana Watanabe made his way to the cage with a record of 11 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, 3 of those wins coming by knock out and 4 by submission.

Kana Watanabe marked her 6th fight for them, having made her own debut for the promotion in 2019.

Ilima Lei Macfarlane's Bellator record stood at 12-3-0, while Kana Watanabe's came in at 4-2-0.

The stats suggested Watanabe had a slight advantage in power over Macfarlane, with a 27% knock out percentage over Macfarlane's 17%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Macfarlane had an advantage over Watanabe, with a 50% submission rate over Watanabe's 36%.

Ilima Lei Macfarlane was the younger man by 1 year, at 35 years old.

Watanabe had a height advantage of 2 inches over Macfarlane. Despite this, he had a 1-inch reach advantage.

Macfarlane was the more experienced professional fighter, having had 1 more fights, and made his debut in 2015, 2 years and 10 months earlier than Watanabe, whose first professional fight was in 2017. He had fought 8 more professional rounds, 49 to Watanabe's 41.

Macfarlane vs Watanabe form

Macfarlane had beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going to the judges twice.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had won against Bruna Ellen at Bellator 284 on 12th August 2022 by split decision in their 3 round contest at Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, United States.

Previous to that, he had lost to Justine Kish at Bellator 279 on 23rd April 2022 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu.

Going into that contest, he had been beaten by Juliana Velasquez at Bellator 254 on 10th December 2020 by unanimous decision in their Bellator Women’s Flyweight championship fight at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville.

Before that, he had beaten Kate Jackson at Bellator 236 on 21st December 2019 by unanimous decision in their Bellator Women’s Flyweight championship fight at Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu.

He had defeated Veta Arteaga at Bellator 220 on 27th April 2019 by knockout in the 3rd round in their Bellator Women’s Flyweight championship fight at SAP Center, San Jose.

Watanabe had beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going the distance 3 times.

In her last fight before this contest, she was victorious against Denise Kielholtz at Bellator 281 on 13th May 2022 by submission in the 2nd round at SSE Arena, London, United Kingdom.

Previous to that, she had been defeated by Liz Carmouche at Bellator 261 on 25th June 2021 by knockout in the 1st round at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, United States.

Going into that contest, she had won against Alejandra Lara at Bellator 255 on 2nd April 2021 by split decision in their 3 round contest at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville.

Before that, she had beaten Ilara Joanne at Bellator 237 on 28th December 2019 by knockout in the 3rd round at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan.

She had defeated Justyna Haba at RIZIN 15 on 21st April 2019 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Yokohama Arena, Yokohama.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Ilima Lei Macfarlane had been fighting more than Kana Watanabe.

Going to this contest, Ilima Lei Macfarlane had last fought 2 years, 9 months and 3 days ago, while Kana Watanabe's last outing had been 3 years and 2 days ago.

Macfarlane's last 5 fights had come over a period of 6 years and 18 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 1 year, 2 months and 18 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 19 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3.8 rounds on average.

Watanabe's last 5 fights had come over a period of 6 years and 24 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 1 year, 2 months and 19 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 12 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.4 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Macfarlane vs Watanabe?

Ilima Lei Macfarlane was a 11/10 (+110) underdog going into the contest, while Kana Watanabe made his way into the ring at 4/6 (-150) with oddsmakers.