Despite facing numerous challenges such as a loss in his last fight, repeated cancellations of fights due to injuries, and the closing of his gym due to a betting scandal involving his coach, Irish MMA fighter James Gallagher remains optimistic and resilient ahead of his return to Bellator, attributing his perseverance to a positive mindset and hard work.
James Gallagher should arguably be fuming with anger and frustration as he prepares for his comeback at Bellator 298. It has been almost two years since his last cage appearance, which ended with a submission loss to future Bellator bantamweight champion, Patchy Mix. His hiatus was further prolonged by a series of injuries resulting in the cancellation of two fights consecutively in 2022 and 2023.
Adding to these setbacks, Gallagher also grappled with the loss of his head coach and training gym. This adversity arose after former UFC fighter, James Krause, was implicated in a betting scandal, effectively being ostracized from the MMA community and leading to the closure of his gym, Glory MMA and Fitness. Despite these major pre-return shifts in his life, the Irish champion managed to maintain an optimistic outlook.
Gallagher convinced himself to stay unflustered throughout. He strongly believes that the only barrier that can evoke his ire is not putting in the necessary hard work, which is fortunately not his case. He emphatically states his position, saying that he doesn’t have any issues confronting him; all he has are solutions. His positivity fueled his journey through these tough two years, and he valiantly pledges to adapt to new realities, even if they appear to disrupt his well-settled routines.
Suddenly, with the exit of Krause as his coach, Gallagher found himself without a team and a proper training platform. However, with the help of Zak Cummings and Jason High, he managed to navigate through these difficult circumstances. Gallagher believes that no one can take away his mental strength, no matter what material things may be lost in the process. Despite the pain, he views his situation as a challenge, not a problem. This resilient hero is now set to stage his return with a refreshed mindset and an unbeaten resolve.