Roman Salazar Steps in to Take on James Gallagher in Bellator Dublin Main Event

.@StrabanimalMMA has a new opponent for #BellatorDublin!

As revealed by @MMAFighting, James Gallagher will face Roman Salazar in the main event on September 27th.https://t.co/b8L9gfjWPa

— Bellator Europe (@Bellator_Europe) September 19, 2019

Determined to keep James Gallagher on the Dublin card, Bellator MMA has brought in a veteran who is no stranger to fighting on a big stage.

Gallagher (9-1) was set to square off against Callum Ellenor, but the latter was forced to withdraw from their Bellator Dublin main event slot. Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Roman Salazar (13-9, 1 NC) will take the fight on short notice. MMA Fighting was first to report the news on Thursday.

Salazar has had a tumultuous post-UFC career, suffering defeats in Combate Americas and Legacy Fighting Alliance along the way. The 31-year-old competed in the Octagon three times from 2014-2015, where he dropped two by submission to Mitch Gagnon and Marlon Vera. Those losses bookended a no-contest due to an eye poke to the late Norifumi Yamamoto, and going winless in three outings led to his release. "El Gallito" will be making his Bellator debut when he takes on Gallagher.

Gallagher is riding a two-fight winning streak after submitting Steven Graham and beating Jeremiah Labiano by decision. The SBG Ireland product holds seven submission victories all by choke, and sports a 6-1 Bellator record. It will be the second time he headlines a Bellator card in Dublin, with his first the aforementioned submission over Graham.

Bellator Dublin goes down on Sept. 27 from the 3Arena in Dublin.