Highly-touted SBG Ireland prospect James Gallagher was served a heaping helping of humble pie at Bellator 204 on Friday night.
As usual, the previously unbeaten Irishman talked a big game heading into his showdown with Ricky Bandejas at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., but for the first time in his burgeoning career, he failed to deliver. A straight right to the jaw from Bandejas put Gallagher on his seat during an exchange about halfway through the first round, and from there the underdog didn’t let up, as he rocked “The Strabanimal” with a side kick to the face before clinching the win with a barrage of vicious ground-and-pound at the 2:49 mark of the frame.
More than a few observers were happy to see Gallagher humbled, especially considering his antics just prior to the opening bell.
.@StrabanimalMMA tryin’ to get started early! #Bellator204 pic.twitter.com/OK4xcAeQJ0
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) August 18, 2018
Even after suffering his first defeat in eight professional appearances, Gallagher remained defiant as ever. In a statement on his Instagram page, the 21-year-old claimed that were it not for his self-promotion, people wouldn’t have cared about the result of his fight as much as they did.
“I talked a big game and got the big fall, that everyone [is] scared to do. If I hadn’t of [talked] none of you would be talking about me either,” Gallagher wrote. “It’ll be the best thing that ever happened me!! I’ll take it on the chin (literally) and move on. Hats off to my opponent, I show up fully prepared ready to go there’s no excuses. I’m going to bounce back from that loss and climb my way back up and become world champion.”
Gallagher began his promotional tenure with four consecutive triumphs, including a first-round submission of Chinzo Machida in his most recent outing at Bellator 180. Heading into Bellator 204, Gallagher had been eyeing a showdown with bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell. Now, he’ll have a little more work to do to reach the top of the division.
Gallagher sounds as though he’s looking forward to that journey.
“I woke up today with no injuries and with the people who care still around me,” he wrote. “I get back to the gym put in the work and climb my way back. Nothing will keep me down! My spirit is bruised, never broken! I’m still the sh—!”