Bellator is coming to Ireland and the organisation is not going to leave without giving the country’s top talent a chance to impress.
The US-based promotion promised to showcase the talents of undefeated SBG prospect James Gallagher when they join forces with BAMMA for something of a super-show in the 3Arena this December.
Gallagher has yet to receive an opponent for the Dublin card but Bellator are not content to limit the Irish interest in their portion of the event to ‘The Strabanimal’.
We can't bloody wait https://t.co/5aMgfBR2Gs
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 14, 2016
Confirmation came on Friday that former UFC fighter Paul Redmond is set to debut under the Bellator banner after impressing in his first outing since being released by the UFC last year.
At BAMMA 26, Redmond exhibited a smothering wrestling game to claim a routine decision victory over Chris Stringer and get back to winning ways.
On December 16, ‘Redser’ will take on former Bellator featherweight title challenger Daniel Weichel in what will be one of his toughest tests to date.
Weichel (37-9) will enjoy a significant experience advantage over Redmond (11-6) but the hometown edge belonging to the Team Ryano fighter is not to be underestimated.
Redmond endured a truly nightmarish experience of the UFC as he stepped in on short notice to make his featherweight debut against a terrifying undefeated talent in Mirsad Bektic.
The Dubliner only got one more chance in the Octagon, when he was knocked out by Scotland’s Robert Whiteford at UFC Fight Night 72 last July.
In truth, you’d struggle to find a more daunting beginning to life in the UFC than Redmond’s but he’s still the right side of 30 and has time on his side to make a run at the title in Bellator.
And where better than on the banks of the Liffey to take the first step on that run?
Here is the full updated card for the joint Bellator 169/BAMMA 27 venture.
Bellator 169: King Mo vs. Ishii Main Card:
Heavyweight Main Event: Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal (19-5, 1 NC) vs. Satoshi Ishii (14-6-1)
Featherweight Main Card Bout: James Gallagher (4-0) vs. TBA
Featherweight Main Card Bout: Daniel Weichel (37-9) vs. Paul Redmond (11-6)
BAMMA 27 Main Card:
Bantamweight World Title Bout: Tom Duquesnoy (13-1, 1 NC) vs. Alan Philpott (16-8)
Featherweight World Title Bouut: Ronnie Mann (25-8-1) vs. Martin Stapleton (18-4)
Featherweight Main Card Bout: Dylan Tuke (3-0) vs. Sean Tobin (4-2)
On the latest episode of the GAA Hour, Wooly chats to new Meath boss Andy McEntee about the flawed Dublin Championship and catches up with new Clare joint manager Donal Moloney. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
