Conor McGregor’s teammate, James Gallagher was the heavy favourite to win a bantamweight matchup against newcomer Ricky Bandejas at Bellator 204 back in 2018.
The Straight Blast Gym product came into the fight oozing with confidence as he was fresh off a perfect 7-0 run, with six of those wins coming by way of submission.
It was the first time Gallagher competed as bantamweight. He was pumped up when he stepped into the cage and even screamed in his opponent’s face before the fight.
.@StrabanimalMMA tryin' to get started early! #Bellator204 pic.twitter.com/OK4xcAeQJ0
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) August 18, 2018
Bandejas, who had an impressive record of his own that time at 10-1, made sure the Irish fighter will pay for the disrespect he’d shown. And he got the job done in a brutal fashion.
The American fighter took a page out of WWE’s Shawn Michael’s playbook to exact a sweet revenge on Gallagher as he unleashed a picture-perfect Sweet Chin Music before securing the victory with a ground-and-pound. Instant karma for the Irishman!
Relive the stunning knockout below:
Excellent performance by @rickybandejas, who should he take on next? #Bellator204 pic.twitter.com/kBhdUcYHjV
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) August 18, 2018
Following the finish, Bandejas gave ‘The Strabanimal’ a doze of his own medicine as he screamed in his face “11-1 bit*h!”
“When the ring announcer was announcing us, he was jumping and staring, I started to see that he was a little nervous,” the American said.
“I knew once the fight started, he was going to come hard. But me and my coach, we had a plan. We knew once we started hitting him and stuffing takedowns, he would break. And that’s exactly what happened.”
“You could just tell he was nervous. It was his whole demeanour. You could tell he wasn’t as confident as I thought he would be.”
#Bellator204 Results: Ricky Bandejas def. James Gallagher by Knockout in Round 1 pic.twitter.com/cVj2BalqHT
— mma 21+ ⚉ (@mma21plus) August 18, 2018
Meanwhile, here’s what Gallagher had to say about the loss:
“I talked a big game and got the big fall, that everyone scared To do. If I hadn’t of talk none of you would be talking about me either.”
“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. I woke up today with no injuries and with the people who care still around me. 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 shit!”
James Gallagher reacts to knockout loss at #Bellator204: ‘He caught me lucky’ https://t.co/XAjgfKHJDn
— FanSided MMA (@FanSidedMMA) August 18, 2018
(Featured Image Source: Twitter/ Bellator MMA)