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The stakes were high, the tension palpable, but for Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, the Bellator 300 weigh-ins turned into a nail-biting drama that may leave her career on a bittersweet note.
On the eve of this eagerly awaited event, Macfarlane stepped onto the scales with her hopes set on securing the flyweight title in her bout against longtime friend and reigning champion, Liz Carmouche. However, the scales delivered a cruel verdict as Macfarlane missed the flyweight limit by 1.6 pounds.
Her first attempt revealed a weight of 127.4 pounds, a disheartening start to the proceedings. A second try saw her slightly closer at 126.6 pounds, but still outside the allowable limit. With one more chance to make weight, Macfarlane's third attempt brought her in at 128.2 pounds.
In the world of mixed martial arts, making weight is not merely a formality but a crucial component of the sport's integrity. With Macfarlane unable to meet the flyweight limit, the flyweight title hangs in the balance. The bout will now proceed as a five-round non-title catchweight match, with only Liz Carmouche eligible to exit the cage as the champion.
The drama surrounding Macfarlane's weigh-in is a reminder of the challenges athletes face in maintaining their weight and conditioning for high-stakes fights. It's not the first time Macfarlane has grappled with this issue; she previously missed weight in August 2022, weighing in at 129 pounds for a non-title flyweight bout against Bruna Ellen. Despite that setback, she managed to secure a unanimous decision victory.
While Macfarlane's quest for the flyweight title may be temporarily derailed, the rest of the Bellator 300 card remains intact. Headlining the event is Usman Nurmagomedov, who successfully weighed in at 154.8 pounds for his lightweight title defense against Brent Primus. Additionally, Cris Cyborg weighed in at 144.6 pounds as she prepares for her fifth consecutive title defense against Cat Zingano in the featherweight division.