Two title fights. Two champions still searching for respect.
That may seem like an odd tag line for reigning champions Rory MacDonald and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane as they head into their respective defenses against Jon Fitch and Veta Arteaga on Saturday at Bellator 220, but the fact is that they still have plenty to prove despite their impressive resumes.
MacDonald is coming off of a humbling loss to Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi, a result that threatened to overshadow MacDonald’s gritty, five-round welterweight championship win against Douglas Lima in January of last year.