Kate Jackson out to make MMA history by dethroning Bellator champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in Hawaii

It will be some last-minute Christmas shopping for most of us for this weekend. But for Kate Jackson, it marks the biggest night of her career as the Bellator fighter aims to become the UK’s first female MMA world champion.

33-year-old Jackson is in Hawaii as she aims to become the first woman to beat Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and take the flyweight world title.

Macfarlane will be fighting in her hometown, looking to extend her flawless professional record to 11-0.

Jackson was last in action at Bellator 223 in London in June, sealing a first-round TKO win over Lena Ovchynnikova. She knew the win would serve her well in her bid to climb into the title picture – but she didn’t expect things to happen quite so quickly.

“I actually expected that I would need one more fight to put myself into the conversation for the title,” Jackson told Standard Sport. “But it was decided my last performance was good enough to get me the shot.

"I think it was early September, my manager phoned me and asked me what do you think about fighting five, five-minute rounds against the champion. I was shocked. I thought there was going to be one more. So it was a massive surprise for me.”

Jackson, whose professional record stands at 11-3, doesn't strike you as a MMA fighter when you speak to her. But the softly-spoken Cornwall native has taken the road less travelled to reach where she is now.

She heads into the lion’s den again this weekend and fighting away from home has never been an issue for her. In 2013, she travelled to fight current UFC star Joanna Jedrzejczyk in her own backyard, gaining plenty of experience on the road before signing for Bellator in 2017.

“Most of my early fights before Bellator were away from home. I ran out of UK opponents in 2012, so I had a five-year period where I only fought abroad. I have a lot of experience fighting in other people’s home territory.

“So it’s not massively different. Obviously being in the main event and fighting a Hawaiian fighter in Hawaii, it’s different, but for me it’s more just logistical things to get used to.”

The challenge on Saturday is Macfarlane.

Prior to the arrival of Cris Cyborg earlier this year, the Hawaiian would have counted herself as perhaps the biggest star of Bellator’s growing female roster, having won all 10 of her professional bouts to date, claiming the joint third-longest winning streak in the promotion’s history.

“She’s really tough and undefeated throughout her career,” Jackson said of her opponent. “My coaches can see holes in her game though for us to try and exploit.

"She’s got very good ground game but so have I. I think she hasn’t necessarily fought with someone who is on the same level of her for a while. So it will be interesting to see how that goes.”

Make no mistake, the task at hand on Saturday is huge; Jackson is aiming to become only the third British world champion in MMA behind UFC legend Michael Bisping and Bellator’s Liam McGeary.

Not overthinking things will be key to her joining that exclusive club.

“I want to take in the experience and enjoy it, but it is one fight and one fighter in front of me, the same as any other fight beforehand.

“That’s how I’ve always approached my career, one fight at a time, and this is just one more fight on the ladder.”

Bellator Hawaii: Macfarlane vs. Jackson takes place on Saturday December 21 from the historic Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Tickets to the event are on sale now and can be purchased via Ticketmaster. For more information visit Bellator.com

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