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

Watanabe had beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 2 of them, going the distance twice.

In her last fight before this contest, she had lost to Liz Carmouche at Bellator 261 on 25th June 2021 by knockout in the 1st round at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, United States.

Previous to that, 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.

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

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

She was victorious against Shizuka Sugiyama at RIZIN Heisei’s Last Yarennoka! on 30th December 2018 by knockout in the 1st round at Saitama Super Arena, Tokyo.

Activity check

Macfarlane's last 3 fights had come over a period of 7 years, 4 months and 21 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 2 years, 5 months and 18 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 7 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.3 rounds on average.

Watanabe's last 5 fights had come over a period of 5 years, 8 months and 12 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 1 year, 1 month and 20 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 11 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.2 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.