An MMA Thanksgiving: 2018 All-Turkey Team

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James Gallagher

Bravado overran James Gallagher -- the phrase “don’t let your mouth write checks your ass can’t cash” comes to mind -- at Bellator 204 on Aug. 17, as he risked his perfect professional record against Ricky Bandejas at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Channeling the spirit of SBG Ireland stablemate and mentor Conor McGregor, Gallagher poked, prodded and taunted Bandejas ahead of their three-round encounter.

“He’s just not on my level. There’s no one here on my level,” Gallagher said in a prefight interview. “I’m in a league of my own, and tonight, I’m going to show that. I’m going to go in there from the bell, hard shots blazing, and I reckon I’m going to choke him in the first round.”

Gallagher continued to press his luck during fighter entrances and introductions, as he waltzed into the cage, arms raised skyward, and went nose to nose with Bandejas in a blatant attempt at intimidation. Bandejas was unmoved and remained stoic, even as the Irishman bounced and skipped around the cage like it belonged to him.

A +175 underdog, Bandejas electrified the mixed martial arts world in his Bellator MMA debut and wiped out Gallagher with punches in the first round of their bantamweight feature. The former Cage Fury Fighting Championships titleholder sat down the overconfident 21-year-old with a clean right hand and then flurried on him with precision and purpose. A side kick to the face was followed by more punches that drove the dazed Gallagher to the ground and left him unable to defend himself. Bandejas pounded him unconscious 2:41 into Round 1.

Those who expected contrition from Gallagher in defeat were disappointed.

“I talked a big game and got the big fall, that everyone [is] scared to do. If I hadn’t of [talked] none of you would be talking about me either,” Gallagher wrote on his Instagram page. “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,” he added. “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 sh--!”