James Gallagher walks to the ring before his bout at MSG (Picture: AP/Gregory Payan)

James Gallagher is preparing for the biggest night of his MMA career when he headlines Bellator Dublin on November 10.

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But in truth, the Northern Irishman has been going from the biggest night of his life to the next biggest night of his life for two years.

Since turning pro in 2015, Gallagher has taken the Irish MMA scene by storm and is on the verge of taking over Bellator as their most exciting fighter.

The 20-year-old is desperate to graduate from prospect to champion and on November 10 in the city where he learned his MMA trade, he’ll have the chance to officially become the main event fighter he feels he already is.




‘Every show that they’ve taken to Ireland, I was the real main event and everyone knows that,’ Gallagher told Metro.co.uk.

James 'The Strabanimal' Gallagher Wins 7 Fights 7 By Submission 6 By Decision 1 Losses 0 Share

(Picture: AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

‘I’m going to call it the real Jimmy show this time. The last one was the Jimmy Show, but this is the real Jimmy Show now.

He added: ‘It feels right this time. I didn’t like the last time.

‘I don’t know what it was, but it just didn’t feel right. I didn’t fight right.

‘But this one I can feel is going to be different. This one is going to be the best show Bellator has ever put on. I guarantee it.’

The last time Gallagher fought in Dublin he submitted Anthony Taylor and was in all but name, the main event for a raucous Irish crowd.

Since that win he has picked up two first-round victories over Kirill Medvedovsky and Chinzo Machida.

The Machida destruction in June happened on Bellator’s first Madison Sqaure Garden fight card as Gallagher become just the second Irish MMA star to fight in the iconic venue.

It has been a rollercoaster two years for Gallagher as he has gone from an unknown, mouthy Irishman to the most exciting fighter to come out of Ireland since Conor McGregor.

But, at odds with his age, Gallagher has no interest in burning out under the bright lights that comes with becoming one of Bellator’s biggest stars.

‘Sports stars earn a bit of money and they just go off on a mad one for a year and that’s it,’ he begins.

‘You’ve fu**ed up your career and you’ve got nothing left. You have to start again.

Gallagher submits Chinzo Machida (Picture: Bellator)

‘That’s not me, I’m smart. Money makes money.

‘You’ve got to keep it to make some more. That’s what I’m going to do, I’m going to stack it up, invest in a few things.

‘When I’m in the gym, I can’t spend money.’

Gallagher’s mindset is something found in every great champion, a determination to keep going and an unrelenting focus on getting better and better.

It’s found in his SBG team-mate McGregor and in the Irishman’s next opponent, Floyd Mayweather.

‘Even now, when I’ve just been at Madison Square Garden, I’ve made a lot of money, I have everything I could want and can do whatever the fu** I want.



‘Every day I go to the gym, no matter what. That’s the difference between me and a lot of people my age. They don’t have their heads screwed on the way I do. People would be away enjoying it all, but I’m only 20. When I 35, 40 years old then I’ll go and enjoy it proper – once I’ve done all my work.

Gallagher's last five fights WIN vs Chinzo Machida – Sub (Rear-naked choke, R1)

WIN vs Kirill Medvedovsky – Sub (RNC, R1)

WIN vs Anthony Taylor – Sub (RNC, R3)

WIN vs Mike Cutting – UD

WIN vs Gerard Gilmore – Sub (RNC, R1)

‘Once I’ve proved to myself what I’m capable of. Then I’ll go enjoy it. But for now, I’m staying in the gym, keeping my head on my shoulders and focus right.

‘A lot of people see me fight and think I’m some wild motherfu**er who just goes out and fights people. They assume I’m not smart.

‘I didn’t finish school either so they kind of count me out from there.

‘But, I’m one of the smartest people you’ll ever come across when it comes to stuff like this, to the fight game. I’m not going to go out and blow it all.

‘I’m smart, my head is screwed on. I’ll make smart choices. I’m not going from fight to fight, I’m trying to build an empire.’

Bellator are due to announce Gallagher’s opponent in the next week, but the featherweight was not giving anything away.

(Picture: AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

American prospect AJ McKee has developed a rivalry with Gallagher and told Metro.co.uk in April that he would would love to fight the Irishman in Dublin.


‘We’re keeping things close to our chest, but it’ll be announced in the next few days,’ said Gallagher when asked if McKee was his next opponent.

‘What he says and what he really wants are two different things. Whatever, he needs me. I don’t need him. I’m on my way. I’m soaring and he’s still struggling, crying for me. That’s the only reason he’s crying out for me, he wants a bit of popularity.

‘I want world titles, that’s the difference. I don’t want popularity, I’ve got enough friends. He’s just looking for a bit of attention. I’m after world titles.’

Gallagher attracted the attention of almost every major US outlet when he was in New York and threw a curveball on the MMA Hour when he suggested he could go down to bantamweight.

It begs the question about where Gallagher sees himself going in the next few years, where does he see the Bellator path taking him?

He’s focused on becoming a two-weight world champion and believes Bellator is the perfect promotion to build his empire in.

‘I think I’ll have the two belts in Bellator in two or three years,’ Gallagher said.

‘I’ll be the two-weight world champion, I will get the bantamweight and the featherweight.

‘I can make bantamweight, I’m only 70kg, I can cut down and make it. Once I get to double weight world champion I’ll take it from there.


‘I get loads of offers. But fighting wise, I’m staying with Bellator. 100 per cent. They treat me well, I feel like we’re a good team.’

When asked if his long-term plans included a stint in the UFC, Gallagher insisted he would stay where he was valued.

‘Is it my goal to go over and go into the UFC? No not really, I’m happy where I am,’ he said.

‘But then, if you’re saying to me the UFC comes and offers me three million to go and fight someone, well then that’s a little different.

(Picture: AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

‘Is Bellator going to match that? I go with what’s the best for me at the time. My goal is to stay with Bellator. My goal in Bellator is to be world champion.

‘Those are my goals. Even if I got a better offer, I’m sure they would match it.

‘They’ve looked after me so far. We have a good relationship, me and Scott Coker and the matchmakers.

‘At the minute I don’t want to go anywhere else. I feel like this is perfect for this stage in my career, for my age, for what I’m getting and what I’m giving them.’

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