James Gallagher will make his debut on American soil in June (Picture: MMA Latest)

James Gallagher has promised to strangle Chinzo Machida under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden when he rocks up the iconic venue on June 24.

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Bellator come to MSG for the first time in their history this summer and Gallagher explained he could not let the chance to compete pass him by, regardless of the fact he is now off the London card in May.

The Northern Irishman revealed how he approached the Bellator bosses about getting the opportunity to fight in New York.

‘I was supposed to be fighting in London and I had an opponent matched and everything, but then I saw the MSG card,’ Gallagher said.


Gallagher vs Machida Machida

MMA record: 5-2

Age: 40 Gallagher

MMA record: 6-0

Age: 20

‘Muhammed Ali and Mike Tyson have fought there and all the greats have fought in MSG so after seeing that announced I was like f**k this, I want to make the walk that some of the greats have walked.



‘I got in contact with Bellator and said let’s get me on the MSG card, I want to take the walk of the greats.

‘They said alright then and the next thing you know I’m fighting at MSG, it was a simple as that.’

An honor to face someone from the legendary Machida family. See you soon New York pic.twitter.com/FolTcHdWY7 — Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) March 27, 2017

His opponent on June 24, Chinzo Machida, is the elder brother of former UFC champion light heavyweight Lyoto Machida.

Both Machida brothers are recognized for their world class karate and Gallagher is well aware heading into the bout that the Brazilian will be his toughest challenge yet.

‘The Machida’s are absolute legends of the game,’ Gallagher said.

‘They were big idols of mine, I come from a karate background also so I have a lot of respect for these guys.

‘He was doing martial arts before I was even born and to go in and beat someone like that, it’s going to be nice for me.

‘I’m looking forward to going in and beating someone that has been doing martial arts longer than I’ve been living.’

Despite the gap in MMA experience, Gallagher said that he will be going in there looking to finish him.

Gallagher will be the biggest Irish name on Bellator’s card in New York (Picture: Instagram)

‘I’m going to go in there and strangle him in the first round,’ he said.

‘I’m going to go in there, break him down, close the distance, take him down and strangle him.

‘Make no mistake about it, he’s a karate master and he’s being doing that longer than I have years on this planet.

‘I’ve got respect and admire him, but I’m here to finish him and he’s in my way.

‘I don’t give a f**k, I’m going to walk straight through him, take him down to the mat, elbow him in the face and submit him.’

With the fight now set, Gallagher said he would go out to train in Iceland alongside his fellow SBG Ireland teammate Gunnar Nelson.

‘I feel like this is my time to shine,’ Gallagher said.

‘This is what I’ve wanted all my life and now here we are.

Theres no 20year old in MMA has done what I'm about to do Thats a fact not a cocky prediction Follow the script of the greatest of all time — james gallagher (@StrabanimalMMA) March 23, 2017

‘Just over two years ago I was fighting in halls in front of a few hundred people, now I’m making the walk into the greatest fighting arena of all time at 20 years old.



‘When I walk in and put the performance on that I’m going to put on, people are going to be saying ‘now what?’.

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