James Gallagher will play the starring role once again on home soil as Bellator returns to Dublin in February 2020.
The first European Series event of Bellator’s 2020 schedule has been confirmed, with the promotion announcing its return to Dublin, Ireland on Feb. 22.
The atmospheric 3Arena will play host to Bellator Europe 7, which will be headlined by the organization’s biggest Irish star, bantamweight [autotag]James Gallagher[/autotag], who will take on England’s [autotag]Cal Ellenor[/autotag].
The pair were originally booked to face off at Bellator Europe 4 in September, but issues with Ellenor’s brain scans forced the Sunderland native off the card, as the Englishman released an emotional statement explaining his situation.
Gallagher (10-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) stayed on the card and defeated short-notice replacement Roman Salazar via guillotine choke in just 35 seconds, while Ellenor (8-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) chased a second opinion on his scans and subsequently received the news that he was cleared to fight again.
“Ellenor has been medically cleared by a licensed physician to return to active competition, following an incorrect reading initially provided by a doctor in South Africa,” explained Bellator via a press release announcing the rearranged fight.
“Bellator MMA, as well as the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulations, which oversees the organization’s international events, maintains that athletes pass all medical requirements, ensuring they are held to the highest standards in safety and regulation.”
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Now Gallagher and Ellenor are set to face off at the second time of asking, at the same venue, in February, with Gallagher looking to register the 11th win of his professional career, and Ellenor bidding to claim his second straight victory under the Bellator banner.
Also announced for the Feb. 22 card is a trio of fights featuring Irish fighters. [autotag]Philip Mulpeter[/autotag] (10-6 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will look for another victory in Dublin when he drops down to lightweight to take on former BAMMA featherweight champion [autotag]Daniel Crawford[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 0-2 BMMA), while [autotag]Ryan Roddy[/autotag] (8-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) welcomes undefeated Scot [autotag]Chris Duncan[/autotag] (5-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) to the Bellator cage in a second lightweight matchup.
Former Cage Warriors light heavyweight champion [autotag]Karl Moore[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) has also been booked for the card. He’ll take on [autotag]Arunas Andriuskevicus[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) at 205 pounds.
Confirmed fights for Bellator Europe 7 include:
- James Gallagher vs. Cal Ellenor
- Philip Mulpeter vs. Daniel Crawford
- Ryan Roddy vs. Chris Duncan
- Karl Moore vs. Arunas Andriuskevicus
