ONE OF IRELAND’S mostly highly-regarded mixed martial prospects has taken a big step forward in his career.
Strabane native James Gallagher, 19, who’s been training under John Kavanagh at Straight Blast Gym for over four years, has confirmed that he has signed a contract with Bellator.
The US-based organisation, which is owned by Viacom, has staged over 150 events since it was founded in 2008 and is widely regarded as the leading competitor to the UFC’s dominance of the sport of MMA.
Gallagher, who made his amateur debut at the age of 15, turned professional last October and quickly set about clocking up the wins. His first-round submission of Gerard Gilmore at BAMMA 24 in February brought his record to 3-0.
According to a report by MMAFighting.com, Gallagher will face Limerick’s Sean Tobin in a BAMMA bout on 4 June before making his Bellator debut later this year.
“It’s all I ever dreamed of since I was 13 and now it’s a reality. It is only the begging for me, I’m only 19 years old, I’m young and hungry,” said Gallagher, who spent 10 weeks in Las Vegas last summer as part of Conor McGregor’s training camp for his UFC 189 bout against Chad Mendes.
While Bellator has often come in for criticism for hosting some less than credible contests — the recent bout between Kimbo Slice and Dada 5000, for example — it is also home to some of the best fighters in MMA, including Will Brooks, Michael Chandler, Liam McGeary, Phil Davis, Daniel Straus and former UFC champion Benson Henderson.
The organisation will hold an event outside of North America for the first time when Bellator 152 takes place a week on Saturday in Torino, Italy.
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