Championships and friendships don’t often mix in mixed martial arts. The pursuit of glory has irreparably damaged some relationships. Other times, loyalty perseveres in exchange for missed opportunities. Liz Carmouche and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane are set to meet at Bellator 300 on Saturday in a rare instance of two best friends elevating each other en route to a world title fight.
Carmouche defends her Bellator women’s flyweight championship against former champion Macfarlane in San Diego. It’s a fight both women have campaigned for despite years of friendship and training together.
“This is a day that we knew, just coming up and training together all the time, was inevitable,” Carmouche told CBS Sports. “I feel like part of the reason why Bellator signed me is the storyline. So we certainly knew it was going to happen. I like the idea of submitting her gently and putting her to sleep — no harm, no foul — we can both smile afterwards rather than coming out battered and beaten. But knowing the two of us, we’re going to come out battered and beaten.
“Both of us wanted nothing but success for each other… If we’re in the same organization, it’s inevitable that we’re going to face each other.”
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