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Bellator MMA star James Gallagher has revealed what it is that keeps his name out of the headlines while his teammate Conor McGregor constantly courts controversy.

The bantamweight contender, who faces off with Jeremiah Labiano at Bellator London on June 22nd in the SSE Arena Wembley, is constantly compared to 'The Notorious', but keeps a lower profile in his personal life.

And speaking with Irish Mirror ahead of his upcoming bout, Gallagher revealed how he keeps himself out of the limelight, having learned from the mistakes of his SBG teammate.

"I like to keep my private life private," Gallagher said. "I try to keep low-key and I don't do much else than fighting.

"I train, I go home and I chill with my girl or my family or something like that and relax and I don't go out much floating around and stay out of trouble.

"I stay in Dublin and I don't go home much, because I'd just get drawn in, you get surrounded by people and you get influenced by people and that's when it all goes down.

(Image: @Jamesgallagher Instagram)

"I just try to surround myself with positive people and keep in the gym atmosphere even when I'm not [in the gym] by keeping myself around people who are training with me."

Gallagher recently signed what he described as a 'life-changing' new contract with MMA's second biggest promotion, and admits there is a temptation to get caught up in potentially rough situations.

McGregor has been known to find himself in hot water while out and about; the UFC superstar was accused of smashing and stealing a fan's phone outside a Miami Beach hotel last month for example.

(Image: ©INPHO/Gary Carr)

"I don't venture out or go out for the weekend with my mates and someone comes up [looking for trouble], I'm the fighter here, you know what I mean?" Gallagher continued.

"I just don't get into those positions, so that I would have to react like that, because that's me and, like, I would.

"I know that I would do something stupid if I was out floating around so I just decide not to put myself in those positions and focus on my career.

"I know when I'm in bed on a Friday night nothing's going to happen to me and I'm going to wake up on Saturday fresh and go training again.

"Whereas, if I'm out until God knows what time I'd be waking up the next day like 'bollocks, what happened?', we've all been there with your head under the sheets.

"Maybe I'll go out after a friend, but I'll stick to a few close friends in our own spot.

"I chose this life and when I go out now people actually want to do something to get me to react and make me fail, so to win those situations you just don't react, or just don't be there."

Tickets for Bellator London: Mousasi vs. Lovato Jr. are now on sale and can be purchased online from axs.com/uk and Bellator.com

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