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 2 years, at 34 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 11 more professional rounds, 49 to Watanabe's 38.

Macfarlane vs Watanabe form

Kana Watanabe had beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents.

In her last fight before this contest, she had won against Shanna Young at PFL 1: 2024 Regular Season on 4th April 2024 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Boeing Center, San Antonio, United States.

Previous to that, she had beaten Veta Arteaga at Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN 2 on 31st July 2023 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan.

Going into that contest, she had lost to Ilima Lei Macfarlane at Bellator 295 on 22nd April 2023 by split decision in their 3 round contest at Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, United States.

Before that, she had defeated Denise Kielholtz at Bellator 281 on 13th May 2022 by submission in the 2nd round at SSE Arena, London, United Kingdom.

She had been beaten by Liz Carmouche at Bellator 261 on 25th June 2021 by knockout in the 1st round at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, United States.

Activity check

Macfarlane's last 2 fights had come over a period of 7 years, 11 months and 9 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 3 years, 11 months and 20 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 4 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2 rounds on average.

Watanabe's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 9 months and 5 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 9 months and 1 day. 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.