HONOLULU – While there were boos for her and elaborate entrances for her opponent, Justine Kish won Saturday at Bellator 279.
On the main card at Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Kish (8-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) defeated Hawaiian former Bellator champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-2 MMA, 10-2 BMMA) by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), much to the dismay of the home crowd.
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane didn't win at #Bellator279, but is loved by her fellow Hawaiians regardless of result. 💙
Full results: https://t.co/HOfHPCaMHB pic.twitter.com/Yd3i19iN0N
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 24, 2022
The first round took place on the feet, though Macfarlane attempted her fair share of takedowns. Kish denied them and utilized her jab. Both fighters landed here and there. Kish looked comfortable in the moment despite being in enemy territory.
In the second round, Kish took grappling into her own hands when she threatened a standing guillotine. The choke attempt lifted Macfarlane off her feet as she toppled backward. The collapse broke the grip, but Kish remained in a dominant position until Macfarlane threatened a heel hook. The attempt was unsuccessful but did enough to mitigate the threat and raise the fighters to their feet until the end of Round 2.
The third round was more Kish as Macfarlane tried to find her range. Midway through the round, Macfarlane landed a big strike that hurt Kish. However, Kish dragged the fight right to the ground and into side control. Macfarlane threatened a submission, but no dice. The two rolled, and Kish threatened an armbar, but Macfarlane reversed position and ended up on top. Too little too late, however, as the round and fight came to a close.
With the win, Kish snaps a three-fight losing skid and picks up her first Bellator win. Meanwhile, Macfarlane loses for the second time in as many fights and for the first time since she recovered from knee surgery.
Hawaii's Ilima-Lei Macfarlane had a powerful walkout ahead of her return to action tonight at #Bellator279.
Take it all in. 🌸🍍 pic.twitter.com/3nVIZfuStI
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 24, 2022
The up-to-the-minute Bellator 279 results include:
- Justine Kish def. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Patchy Mix def. Kyoji Horiguchi via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) – bantamweight grand prix opening round
- Yancy Medeiros def. Emmanuel Sanchez via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Goiti Yamauchi def. Levan Chokheli via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:49
- Bobby King def. Keoni Diggs via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
- Dayana Silva def. Janay Harding via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Justin Gonzales def. Kai Kamaka via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
- Lance Gibson Jr. def. Nainoa Dung via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25)
Bellator 279 took place Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center.
