Bellator's first event of the New Year is getting a women's bout.
Prospect Ilima MacFarlane will meet Amber Tackett in the featured prelim of Bellator 148 on Jan. 29 in Fresno, Calif., sources told MMA Fighting. Bellator officials confirmed the bout Tuesday night.
MacFarlane (2-0) was one of the principles in a fight that spurred a California state investigation last year. The San Diego resident viciously knocked out Katie Castro, an opponent who seemed unfit to fight, in a bout for controversial, unsanctioned promotion Xplode Fight Series in January 2015. California State Athletic Commission executive officer Andy Foster said at a commission meeting in September that he would no longer recognize wins from unregulated events like XFS.
Bellator signed MacFarlane, who trains at San Diego Combat Academy, over the summer and she defeated Maria Rios by split decision in August. Bellator is trying to develop a women's 125-pound division.
Tackett (1-1) will be making her Bellator debut. She's coming off a win over Corina Herrera at The Warriors Cage 23 in October.
Bellator 148 is headlined by a welterweight fight between knockout artist Paul Daley and Andy Uhrich. Chris Honeycutt meets Paul Bradley in the co-main event.