December 20, 2024

James Gallagher to meet Jeremiah Labiano in Bellator Dublin main event

A day after confirming to MMAFighting.com that he would remain in the featherweight ranks, James Gallagher’s opponent for Bellator Dublin has been confirmed as Jeremiah Labiano (11-5).

Bellator announced the main event matchup for the Nov. 10 show at the 3 Arena on Wednesday via press release.

Coming off the biggest win of his career to Chinzo Machida at Madison Square Garden, the unbeaten SBG fighter Gallagher believes this will be the biggest event Bellator have ever brought to Ireland.

In what is becoming commonplace for “The Strabanimal,” he has predicted to win with a “strangle”, which would mark the first submission loss of Labiano’s career.

“Welcome to the real Jimmy show,” said Gallagher, according to the press release.

“It will be a first for the fans here to have a Bellator event of this magnitude in Ireland and it’s the first time that my opponent will ever be strangled, so I’m glad it’s in front of my people.

“It’s the first phase of building the Jimmy empire, and I’m still only 20.”

Labiano has fought under the Bellator banner on three occasions, amassing a record of 2-1 with the promotion.

He carries a two-fight win streak going into the bout. He claimed the Conquer FC featherweight title in his last outing against Jackson-Wink fighter, Stephen Cervantes, taking the decision win after five rounds of action.

The American claimed stoppages in his first seven winning performances, but has not finished a fight since 2013. According to the press release, Labiano is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

One of the most highly touted prospects to ever come from the Irish scene, Gallagher remains undefeated after seven professional outings. He has finished all but one of his fights, his Bellator debut, where he was forced to go the distance with England’s Mike Cutting.

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