James Gallagher to Make Bantamweight Debut at Bellator 204 in Sioux Falls on Aug. 17

SBG Ireland prospect James Gallagher will make his bantamweight debut when he faces promotional newcomer Ricky Bandejas at Bellator 204.

Sherdog.com confirmed the booking with a promotion official following an announcement by the Sanford Pentagon, the event venue. Bellator 204 takes place in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Aug. 17 and is headlined by a featherweight duel pitting 135-pound champ Darrion Caldwell against Noad Lahat. In the co-main event, Logan Storley locks horns with A.J. Matthews at 170 pounds. The evening’s main card airs on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

The 21-year-old Gallagher hasn’t competed since June 2017, when he choked out Chinzo Machida in the opening stanza at Bellator 180. After that, proposed bouts against Jeremiah Labiano at Bellator 187 and Adam Borics at Bellator 196 fell through when “The Strabanimal” had to withdraw due to injury. Gallagher is 7-0 as a professional, including six wins via submission.

Bandejas, meanwhile, has compiled a 10-1 record while fighting exclusively for the Cage Fury Fighting Championships promotion. The 26-year-old Nick Catone protégé last appeared at CFFC 69 in December, when he scored a fourth-round KO of Nick Mamalis to retain his interim bantamweight crown.