Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
The Bellator flyweight title will go up for grabs when reigning champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane faces off with undefeated challenger Juliana Velasquez on Dec. 10.
Sources close to the situation confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Wednesday following an initial report from ESPN.
Like her upcoming opponent, Macfarlane has a perfect professional record at 11-0, which includes four consecutive defenses of her Bellator 125-pound title. In her last appearance, Macfarlane dispatched Kate Jackson by unanimous decision in December 2019.
Now almost exactly one year later, Macfarlane will return to clash with Velasquez, who boasts a 10-0 record including five straight wins in Bellator.
Velasquez has also been out of action for almost a year with her last win coming against Bruna Ellen at Bellator 236 this past December.
Macfarlane vs. Velasquez is expected to go down on Dec. 10 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.