Champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane seems perfectly content fighting for Bellator.

Macfarlane (8-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA), the organization’s reigning women’s flyweight champ, recently headlined Bellator 201 and scored a third-round submission victory over Alejandra Lara (7-2 MMA, 1-1 BMMA).

Following the bout, which aired on Paramount from Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif., the 28-year-old fighter admitted she geeked out seeing former UFC champ and fellow Hawaiian B.J. Penn. However, she has no plans to fight in the UFC octagon herself.

“Everybody always asks me, ‘Are you going to go to the UFC? What’s your plan?’ Why would I go to the UFC?” said Macfarlane, who’s 7-0 with five submissions since her Bellator debut in 2015.

Macfarlane would certainly be a competitive addition to the UFC’s burgeoning female flyweight division, but like a host of UFC vets who have signed with Bellator in recent years, she doesn’t necessarily see the UFC as an ultimate goal. She said she’s content where she’s at – in an organization that signed her after just a 1-0 pro record.

“You’re seeing more and more fighters come from the UFC over to Bellator and – and not just any fighter (but) like, high-profile fighters; (UFC) Hall of Fame fighters are coming over to Bellator,” she said. “So, I think that’s just saying a lot about where our organization is going. …

“Why would I want to leave the people who believed in me and signed me from the beginning? I don’t think I would’ve even got a second look from other promotions. (Bellator Prsident Scott Coker) was the one that believed in me.”

With her first Bellator title defense in the books, expect future ones from Macfarlane.

“I’m Bellator through and through,” she said.

For complete coverage of Bellator 201, check out the MMA Events section of the site.