Ilima Macfarlane just fine with Emily Ducote rematch for flyweight title at Bellator 186

Ilima Macfarlane is in a position she never really expected to be in this week – but she’s certainly not going to complain about it.

On Friday, Macfarlane (6-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) fights Emily Ducote (6-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) for Bellator’s inaugural women’s flyweight title in the co-main event of Bellator 186 at Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State’s campus in University Park, Pa. The main card airs on Spike following prelims on MMAjunkie.

Macfarlane told MMAjunkie at Bellator 185 in Connecticut earlier this month that she never thought she’d be fighting for a title in the seventh fight of her pro career.

“I’m very calm right now, but I know once I get there I’m going to be freaking out,” Macfarlane said. “My career has been accelerated compared to others. It was totally not my intention to be fighting for a world championship at this stage. I just joined the gym because I wanted to lose weight. It wasn’t part of my vision, but now that it’s here, it’s like, ‘All right – let’s do it.'”

To go home with gold around her waist Friday, she’ll have to beat Ducote for a second time. The two fought at Bellator 167 in December 2016, and Macfarlane won a unanimous decision.

Since then, Macfarlane submitted Jessica Middleton in April at Bellator 178. Ducote has fought twice in that span. She outpointed Middleton at Bellator 181 in July, though she was supposed to fight Valerie Letourneau, instead, and Middleton stepped in on short notice. And in March, she submitted Katy Collins.

Still, though their first fight is less than a year old, Macfarlane thought she’d be seeing Ducote again – and is fine with the rematch.

“I had a feeling it was going to be Emily because out of all the other women in the division, she’s been consistent,” Macfarlane said. “She’s been fighting, winning and keeping close to weight. She never turned down a fight. I actually thought it was going to be her. There were other women in the division, such as Anastasia (Yankova), but she hasn’t proven she can make 125, so I thought that might’ve ruled her out. And then other new signees, like Valerie Letourneau, they haven’t even fought for Bellator yet. I figured it wasn’t going to be any of them.

“But honestly, if I could choose anybody, I would choose Emily because our fight, I thought, was really close. It went to a decision, and even though it was unanimous it was back and forth. It was my toughest test to date. I think she’s deserving of it.”

For more from Macfarlane ahead of her title fight rematch with Ducote, check out the video above.

And for more on Bellator 186, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.