James Gallagher is hoping to be the next big name in Irish Mixed Martial Arts but is not taking the UFC route to the top.

Gallagher, nicknamed 'The Strabanimal', after his hometown Strabane in Co Tyrone - has signed with the UFC’s biggest rivals, US promotion Bellator.

He is part of the Straight Blast Gym team headed by John Kavanagh and is a team mate to UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor.