James Gallagher predicted a win by choke and that’s exactly what he got on Friday evening in the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The SBG Ireland prodigy looked flawless throughout his first round submission victory opposite Israel’s Kirill Medvedovsky, finishing his opponent by rear naked choke at the 2:53 mark of the first round. The Strabane native now improves to 6-0 in his professional career, with three of those wins coming under the Bellator banner.

With the cheers of the crowd in attendance echoing through the arena, Bellator announcer Jimmy Smith asked Gallagher if he was playing mind games prior to the bout.

“I do whatever it takes to win”, Gallagher responded. “If I get inside his head or not, I’m still going to choke him.”

Gallagher wasted no time in his post-fight interview to arrange some business for his next bout, potentially in London next May. Throughout fight week, Gallagher has been calling out his fellow undefeated Bellator fighter AJ McKee and he upped the ante on the Bellator broadcast.

“AJ McKee, you’re a fucking pussy”, Gallagher declared. “I’m going to strangle you.”

Photo by Dave Fogarty.