Bellator MMA has a new flyweight champion after Juliana Velasquez handed Ilima-Lei Macfarlane her first loss and claimed the title in the Bellator 254 main event Thursday night.
Two judges scored the five-round bout 48-47 and the other had it 49-46 all in favour of the 34-year-old Brazilian who is now a perfect 11-0 in mixed martial arts.
Macfarlane had won the inaugural 125-pound title back in 2017 and successfully defended it four times.
#AndNew @JuVelasquezMMA is your new flyweight world champ!#Bellator254 #MMA #Bellator pic.twitter.com/dRIJOGM4bH
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) December 11, 2020
Bantamweight standout Magomed Magomedov improved to 17-1 with a dominant unanimous decision win over Matheus Mattos in the co-main event. Magomedov is the only fighter to defeat the UFC’s reigning 135-pound champion Petr Yan. Subsequently, Magomedov’s lone loss came to Yan in their rematch.
Also on the main card, two-time light-heavyweight title challenger Linton Vassell picked up his second consecutive stoppage victory in the heavyweight division, finishing Ronny Markes with ground-and-pound in the second round.
Below are the complete Bellator 254 results:
MAIN CARD
— Juliana Velasquez def. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane by unanimous decision
— Magomed Magomedov def. Matheus Mattos by unanimous decision
— Linton Vassell def. Ronny Markes by TKO
— Romero Cotton def. Justin Sumter by submission (rear-naked choke)
PRELIMINARY CARD
— Billy Goff def. Robson Gracie Jr. by TKO
— Cody Law def. Kenny Champion by TKO
— Grant Neal def. Maurice Jackson by submission (rear-naked choke)
— Shamil Nikaev def. Kemran Lachinov by unanimous decision
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