James Gallagher wants return at Bellator 200: 'Card won't be complete until I'm on it'

Bellator featherweight prospect James Gallagher is seeking a late-May return to competition, and he knows exactly which card he wants to land on.

Gallagher (7-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) has spent recent months on the mend. He suffered a knee injury late last year, and it took several months to recover. He then got healthy and accepted a main-event spot on next month’s Bellator 196 card, but he then suffered a fractured hand in an “unlucky training accident” and was forced to withdraw.

The Irishman is apparently getting back to where he wants to be, though, and he has his sights set on a return at this summer’s Bellator 200 mega-event (via Instagram):

Throw back to my debut at the o2 in London! @bellatormma you know the card won't be complete until I'm on it! #bellator200 let's do it! I'll be ready

A post shared by James gallagher (@strabanimalmma) on Mar 27, 2018 at 3:48am PDT

“Throw back to my debut at the o2 in London! @bellatormma you know the card won’t be complete until I’m on it! #bellator200 let’s do it! I’ll be ready.”

Bellator 200 takes place May 25 at The SSE Arena in London, and the card airs via same-day delay on Paramount.

Gallagher, 21, is coming off a submission win over Chinzo Machida at Bellator 180 in June. It marked his fourth consecutive victory under the Bellator banner, and three of the wins have come by submission. “The Strabanimal” admitted he’s been down because of the repeated hiccups in trying to return to fighting, but he promised to come back in superior shape (via Instagram):

Nothing has been more tough than two back to back injuries. It has broke my heart! But I'm only 21 I'm in no rush in the game I've years left! I'm going to regroup, stay in shape let my body heal up and I'll be back better than ever!

A post shared by James gallagher (@strabanimalmma) on Mar 14, 2018 at 4:21am PDT

“Nothing has been more tough than two back to back injuries. It has broke my heart! But I’m only 21 I’m in no rush in the game I’ve years left! I’m going to regroup, stay in shape let my body heal up and I’ll be back better than ever!”

For more on Bellator 200, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.