James Gallagher admits he fought 'hand-picked opponents' but is ready for next level vs. Patchy Mix
LOS ANGELES – James Gallagher is aware his opposition hasn’t been the toughest, but his journey to the top starts now.
Gallagher (11-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) has received plenty of criticism for the level of competition he’s fought throughout his career, and while the brash Irishman thinks it’s some of it is warranted, he explained why it was necessary.
“They’re right: I have had hand-picked opponents,” Gallagher told MMA Junkie. “I have had easy fights, and I’ve had tough ones. But I’ve also had easy ones. That’s what I’m going to show, and in 10 years time, I’m going to show that, yeah, you can go and you can fight – why would I fight someone who’s the best in the f*cking sport when I’m only a beginning pro? No, I’ll fight someone who’s a little bit above me, who’s going to give me a good test in certain areas, and I’ll grow.
“It’s absolutely stupid. Why would I do that? But now I’m not. Now I’m at the top. Whoever the f*ck wants it is going to get it. Yeah, when I was 19, 20 – I signed with Bellator at 18 years old. When I was a featherweight then, I’m going to go and fight Patricio ‘Pitbull’ (Freire), as a kid? No, not at all. He’s a man. It doesn’t work like that. Build up, grow your skills, develop as yourself, and maybe back then I would have been like, ‘Yeah, I’ll fight him – I’ll fight anyone.’ But then as you go up you’re like, ‘Nah, it’s not like that. You probably weren’t ready.’ And that’s why I didn’t get to fight him.”
After amassing a four-fight winning streak, Gallagher will face his sternest test to date when he meets Patchy Mix on Nov. 5, which is tentatively booked in his home country of Ireland.
Gallagher, who’s been spending time training with James Krause at Glory MMA, is primed to prove the doubters wrong when he faces Mix (14-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA). He views it as a No. 1 contender fight and has his eyes firmly set on Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis.
“Now I’m 24 – my skills are developed,” Gallagher said. “I think I’ve got 12 fights now as a professional, got 20 amateur fights or whatever. I’m open now. Let’s f*cking go. Whoever the f*ck wants it is going to get it. It’s Patchy, then it’s Sergio, and that’s it.
“The image of my developing, of becoming a whole martial artist, and it’s going to show my maturity, my skill set development, my strength, my mindset. Everything is going to show in there that night – and tune in and see.”