What to Expect from James Gallagher vs Patrick Mix

Bellator is set to return to Dublin, Ireland, for the first time since February 2020. The Californian promotion is one of the biggest draws in combat sports and has some of the world’s best MMA fighters. What better way to come back into the emerald isle than by pitting one of the fastest rising Irishmen in the sport today against the locomotive that is Patrick Mix?

With that said, both fighters have impeccable professional records, and the fight should be a good indicator of who deserves a shot at the Bellator Men’s Bantamweight Championship.

James Gallagher

The Irish man may be at home, but he needs to put in a load of preparation against such a skilled fighter. Gallagher’s trajectory has often been compared to that of Conor McGregor’s because of their home nations, but making the jump to UFC is quite a difficult one. McGregor has struggled lately, even when he has been the favourite in UFC matches betting, and it shows how tough it is to stay at the top. When McGregor recovers from his leg injury and re-enters the octagon, UFC betting tips may have him as the underdog. All that goes in saying James Gallagher needs to be in peak condition to score a win and become one step closer to the UFC.

Nevertheless, he is a skilled fighter with only one loss in his amateur and professional career. His style differs from McGregor; rather than a striker, he likes to take opponents on the mat and try to score a submission. He hasn’t fought since October 2020, which would mean he hasn’t competed in a year. He needs a great training camp to be fighting sharp.

Patrick Mix

Mix enters this contest as the more experienced fighter. The New York native has a technical Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling style, which means the contestants will more than likely settle this contest in a submission. 

Patrick Mix has a primarily unblemished record in professional MMA, going undefeated in King of the Cage while having a 3-1 Bellator record. He avenged his only loss last May, which means he has a more recent fight than his Irish counterpart. He also comes in as the third-ranked Bantamweight, which means he would be next in line for a title fight if he can secure the victory. Having climbed the ladder for the past couple of years, it is a crucial fight for him. If he wants to compete in the UFC, it may be the biggest fight of his career. 

Result

The contest is tough to call. Both fighters are incredibly talented and great technicians, with parallel executions for wins. We could see a battle on the ground, and whoever can fight the slightest opening may gain a foothold on the struggle. That being said, the Irishman’s advantage of having a roaring crowd behind him might be enough to help score him the victory. With a fight this tough to call between, it may be things like having a home crowd advantage that could be the difference-maker.