James Gallagher makes his bantamweight division debut at Bellator 204, facing Ricky Bandejas in the co-main event of the show.
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Champion Darrion Caldwell headlines that card in a featherweight division clash against Noad Lahat. Gallagher questions the move Caldwell has made to compete up a weight class, while also questioning the manhood of the bantamweight champion.
“[Caldwell] either feels like he’s cleared out bantamweight, or he’s a p*ssy,” Gallagher told MMA Fighting. “The thing is, I want him to come back; I want to fight him for that belt. I really don’t know if featherweight is a permanent move, but it will be interesting to see if he comes back. If he’s got a set of balls, he’ll come back and defend the title, but if he bounces it means he’s a complete p*ssy. I could never respect that. Maybe if he was getting an immediate title shot in a higher weight category I’d understand, but that’s not the case — he has no excuse to drop that belt. As I said before, if he has a set of balls he’ll come down, take his defeat and then he can do what he wants.”
Gallagher recently stated during an interview with Ariel Helwani that the winner of the bout between him and Bandejas would be next for Caldwell.
The bantamweight contender also reveals that a win for him would set up a title bout in Ireland, which would give Gallagher the obvious home field advantage.
“Honestly, I cannot wait to get back in there and fight. When I was sitting out injured and I couldn’t get up off the couch, that’s when I get anxious. For me to be fighting in a title eliminator fight that can set up a championship date in Ireland, all I’ll feel is happiness once I get in there,” says Gallagher.
Bellator 204 takes place on Friday, August 17 from the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with Darrion Caldwell and Noad Lahat headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on the Paramount Network.
