Patchy Combine and James Gallagher, Bellator 270 Credit score: Lucas Noonan/Bellator MMA
One other Bellator star acquired by PFL after buying the rival promotion has been launched from the corporate.
A deliberate eight occasions in 2024, airing on HBO MAX, in some way grew to become simply 5, with dates in Chicago, Paris, and Japan cancelled. The Bellator title was put to relaxation earlier this month, with the promotion rebranded because the PFL Champions Collection, beginning with the Highway to Dubai card per week in the past.
Confirming he’d requested for and been granted his launch, Gallagher (12-3), nonetheless simply 28, wrote on social media that “I want to thank [PFL MMA] for granting me my release out of my contract. I signed up to Bellator as a 19 year old kid with a 3-0 record right into the main card in the [O2 London]. Bellator MMA was something special. I’m so grateful for all the years of hard work that I put in that I could be the first Irish guy at the fore front for them in Ireland to build up Bellator Europe. I put my heart in sole into each and every event. I’m sad that this area (sic) of my life is over, but excited for my future as a 28 year old young man who had to learn on the job as I built my way up to CO main eventing Bellator 180 in a sold out [Madison Square Garden] in NYC to being main eventing on multiple occasions at home, the place where every Irish fighter dreams of selling out 3 Arena Dublin.”
Referred to as “The StrabAninal,” James Gallagher debuted for the then-Viacom owned promotion in 2016, and gained his first 4 fights there. He’d then drop a bout towards Ricky Bandejas, earlier than embarking on a four-fight win streak that led him to a battle with future champ Patchy Combine. Since dropping that, Gallagher is 1-1, and coming off a loss to Leandro Higo in March of 2024, which marks his most up-to-date MMA motion.
Bellator featherweight champ Patricio Pitbull and brother Patricky have been additionally granted their launch this month.
