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Bellator 217’s James Gallagher happy to take the hate on the road to superstardom

Like it or not, in modern mixed martial arts, the ability to polarize the paying public is quite often more valuable to a fighter than any physical attribute.

The die-hards might still prioritize skill and accomplishment, and readily part with their money to witness apex athletes throw down, but that prospect has not been sufficient to regularly entice the lucrative mainstream market.

Fights are sold on subplots, sideshows and rivalries, manufactured or otherwise, and promoters require the participants to do their parts.

Chael Sonnen, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, Josh Koscheck, Colby Covington, Paul Daley, Michael Bisping.

They’re all capable of inducing a visceral reaction from opponents and fans alike, which generates hype, headlines and, most importantly, dollars.

James Gallagher (7-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) has rarely inspired indifference during his brief professional career. The Bellator bantamweight, who faces Steven Graham (6-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in the main event of Bellator 217, the promotion’s return to Ireland on Saturday, is more than happy to accept all the vitriol that comes his way.

“Here’s the thing: Me becoming a world champion is inevitable if I stick around,” Gallagher told MMAjunkie. “Becoming a superstar isn’t inevitable. I could be around for a long time and nobody would have heard of me. I want to make a lot of money doing this and I know what I have to do to do that.

“I’m a smart fella, even though I didn’t do much in school, and I know what I want and how to get it. And that’s exactly what I’m doing, inside and outside of the cage. I really don’t mind being either the hero or the villain. I just focus on positivity, even taking it from seeing young kids from my local area winning a football match – it might be something as small as that.”

Bellator 217 takes place at 3Arena in Dublin. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN via tape delay.

The vagaries of elite MMA can, in an instant, chasten even the most braggadocio of fighters, and Gallagher was subjected to that reality when Ricky Bandejas (11-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) scored a vicious first-round knockout over him this past August at Bellator 204.

“The Strabanimal” has never turned up the chance to belittle an opponent ahead of a bout. But in the case of Bandejas, he took it one step farther by crowding and taunting him as they were being introduced inside the cage.

By the time Gallagher had recovered consciousness, his unbeaten record was no more while social media and the comment sections were already awash with those celebrating his downfall. Some called it karma and others dismissed him as a blowhard who’d finally been found out.

Gallagher made no excuses for the defeat, but he was never going to be allowed to contemplate his first professional setback like one of the rank and file. That’s just not how it works.

“The reason why these people are hating on me is because a lot of them don’t have the balls to go and do what I am doing,” Gallagher said. “When they were coming up, they went out to the bars with their mates and enjoyed life, but I didn’t do that.

“I didn’t do anything that a teenager does, bar going training and traveling. They’re annoyed that they didn’t put themselves in the position that I’m in. I’ve had plenty of help along the way, but I’ve got here by myself. All these people that are running me down, they’re just bitter that they’ve never got where I have.”

A firm favorite of Gallagher’s naysayers has been to mock him for attempting to mimic the formula that made his friend and SBG Ireland teammate Conor McGregor the biggest name in the sport. The submission ace finds the accusation a little ironic.

“Those people online who like to call me a Conor imitator, that’s exactly what they are – imitators,” Gallagher said. “It’s loads of people just saying the stuff. Do they not see the other comments?

“They should be a bit more original than calling me a McGregor wannabe as if I haven’t heard that one before. I’m waiting for someone to come up with something a bit more original that’s maybe funny and actually true. I’m quite content with who I am.”

Self-awareness also requires acknowledging personal shortcomings and Gallagher readily admits that overconfidence clouded his focus against Bandejas, which compelled him to reassesses his larger objectives in the subsequent weeks and months.

“My ego got in the way of my awareness,” he said. “You need to be more aware of your ego. You have to create your own opportunities and, to do that, you need to be aware of your surroundings. And I didn’t do that, then I got clipped. This time, I’m going to create those opportunities and grab them with both hands. When you’re fully aware, you’re not going to be in any danger because you’ll be fluid in your movements.”

However, it was the unwavering support of his parents, coaches and girlfriend that truly allowed Gallagher to put the defeat in context. It was their reactions that gave the youngster a clear perspective.

“I actually felt like a winner,” Gallagher said. “I walked back into my home and my gym and saw a lot of people proud of me. How can I be sad at that? How can I be sad to go and see my mother, father and coaches all of who love me, and are so happy with what I’ve done?

“Of course I was devastated. I slipped up. But imagine slipping up just once at the age of 22, because I think I’m doing pretty good. Look, I’m probably going to mess up again with other things, but that’s called the learning process.”

Contemplation only goes so far, however, and now Gallagher has the opportunity to not just get back to winning ways but also reward the faith of those who anointed him as the figurehead for what could well be a seminal event for Irish MMA.

Almost half the fighters on the card, including 11 from SBG, hail from Ireland and Bellator will be making its network debut on Sky Sports after signing an exclusive one-year deal with the broadcaster earlier this month.

The timing of that deal, according to Gallagher, coincided beautifully with a conversation he had with his father.

“Before the deal was even announced, three or four weeks ago, I was in London for a press conference,” he said. “And my dad comes everywhere with me – he’s my best mate – and we were picked up in this Mercedes.

“We were cruising through London and we saw the Sky Sports building, and Anthony Joshua and all these high-level boxers were on the side of it, and my dad goes, ‘That’s going to be you someday.’ Two days later, we found out that I was going to be live on Sky Sports. I’m just having the time of my life and loving bringing all this positivity to my family.”

A lone loss can be chalked down to an unfortunate anomaly but the thought of another, particularly in the company of some 9,000 of your compatriots, with many thousands more watching around the globe, could be an overwhelming one. Unless, of course, you’re too busy basking in each and every moment of a dream come true.

“I’m only a young fella, so to be going on national TV and headlining the 3Arena, I’m having the time of my life,” Gallagher said. “I can’t walk down the street without someone stopping me – it’s absolute madness. I’m looking forward to going out on Saturday night and showing why I’m in this position.

“It’s never felt like this in my life. I would feel a bit nervous or tense or pressure before fights, but with this one, I don’t feel any of that. I’m in big hotels, getting chauffeured around, going on national television and making a lot of money on Saturday night, and I’m only 22, so I’m blown away by it. I’m enjoying it as any young guy would.”

For more on Bellator 217, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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