There’s a new No. 1: Hawaii’s Macfarlane loses MMA title

Hawaii’s Ilima-Lei Macfarlane lost her flyweight title to Juliana Velasquez on Thursday in the main event at Bellator 254 in Connecticut.

After holding the championship in the mixed martial arts promotion for more than three years, Macfarlane (11-1) took her first loss in a unanimous decision, 48-47, 49-46, 48-47.

The 30-year-old Macfarlane told Velasquez (11-0), “just be awesome” shortly after the announcement.

“These are tears of relief,” Macfarlane said in a news conference. “It’s hard being the champion. It’s hard being it for so long.”