JAMES ‘The Strabanaimal’ Gallagher notched up another win on his undefeated career feland, featured on the Bellator 180 portion of the fight card as he took on Chinzo Machida.
Gallagher, 20, was half the age of the Brazilian, but he dominated the contest from the opening bell and took Machida down to the mat with just a minute on the clock.
From there, Gallagher made it look easy as he landed elbows in Machida’s guard before taking his back with barely a minute gone.
Gallagher then took his time to sink in the rear-naked choke and after a brief struggle, he locked it in.
Machida had nowhere to go and he tapped out to give Gallagher the win.
He celebrated on the top of the cage with the Irish tricolour as the crowd all around the arena rose to their feet to show him their appreciation.
The young man from the border town fufilled a dream on the biggest stage of all at Madison Square Garden.
There is a lot more to come from James in the future.
After his impressive win, James said: “I am always here for the first round finish.
“If I say I am going to do it, I will do it.
“Just listen to the crowd here tonight. Look at that….there are Tricolours are everywhere.
“This is my place.
“Next time I come back here my picture will be up there with a belt over my shoulder.
“Big Bird: get the fry on. I coming home tomorrow to celebrate!”
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