'They know what I bring to the table': James Gallagher begins his RIZIN chapter in Japan

It’s Sakura season in Japan.

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Cherry blossoms light up the walkways and parks in a time that symbolizes rebirth, vitality and hope. At parties and gatherings across “The Land of the Rising Sun,” people meet and toast a fresh start for their various aspirations, be it in business or education. 

“The timing is perfect,” says James Gallagher, who makes his RIZIN debut Saturday at RIZIN Landmark 13 in Fukuoka when he faces veteran campaigner Kazumasa Majima. 

Once viewed as one of the biggest ticket-sellers on the Bellator roster during his heyday, the late promotion built an entire market in Gallagher’s homeland with a great assist from the Irishman. Although he wasn’t among the vocal protestors following Bellator’s dissolution, Gallagher was assumed to be among the veterans left in a grey area when the company merged with PFL, with his relatively lucrative contract forcing a freeze to his activity. 

His first and only outing for PFL resulted in a loss to tricky Brazilian featherweight Leandro Higo in 2024. The lack of a promotional push he was given for the Belfast bout hit home with the MMA masses on the island. Formerly the face of Bellator in his neck of the woods, Gallagher didn’t even feature on the poster for the SSE Arena event. 

“It was all just a bit weird compared to how it usually was,” he admits. “It just didn’t feel the same. Honestly, I’m there to fight so I don’t really give a f*** if I’m on a poster or not, but you could tell everything was a bit more of a chore for them. It’s hard to explain it exactly, but it just didn’t feel right.” 

James Gallagher, right, in action against Leandro Higo during the Bellator Champions Series event in Belfast.David Fitzgerald via Getty Images

The falling sakura this time of year in Japan are an acknowledgement of the transience of nature — and in that spirit, since arriving in the country, Gallagher has been pondering the changes he’s made to his own career. 

Considered the future of Conor McGregor’s Straight Blast Gym for a number of years, “The Strabanimal” had an amicable parting of ways with coach John Kavanagh in 2021 before heading for new pastures. His first port of call was James Krause’s Glory MMA, but shortly thereafter the coach found himself embroiled in a UFC betting scandal, forcing the Irishman to begin his search again. 

After bouncing around Dubai for some time, a new relationship saw Gallagher frequent Manchester, which eventually led him to SubZone Fight Academy. He quickly formed a close bond with head coach Kameron Atakuru, and he finally feels like he has a new home for his training requirements. 

When Atakuru couldn’t travel for Saturday’s RIZIN event, one of the most beloved fighters of the UK’s current era, Oban Elliott, was happy to take the gig. Gallagher describes the Welsh welterweight as a “training partner, psychologist and barber,” and as he conducts speaks to Uncrowned, he displays a panoramic view of Elliott’s workmanship. 

“[Oban] gave me a nice fade the other day and everything,” he says. “It’s a decent haircut, isn't it?” 

Gallagher is relaxed and upbeat. He’s felt the love since arriving in the home of RIZIN. There is a buzz around him being in a local Wicky’s Gym, to the point that the children who train there decided to decorate the windows with Irish tricolors in his honor. 

And it’s not just the cherry blossoms that make him feel like everything is coming together at exactly the right time. After arriving, Gallagher was getting a treatment done and was asked by a masseuse to pick one ointment from an assortment of fragrances. He admits he barely understood the procedure, but his selection hit home with the masseuse, who said: 

“You’re fighting on RIZIN? The ointment you picked means ‘warrior.’” 

“It’s like I told you,” Gallagher says, “it feels like the stars are aligning.”

The collaboration between RIZIN and the Irishman feels fitting. 

During his Bellator tenure, the watching world could turn on one of Gallagher’s Dublin fights and truly believe that the promotion could challenge UFC for ticket sales and fan engagement. As many argue that UFC’s modern product is in stagnation, RIZIN has become the sweetheart of the hardcore fans who constantly implore their fellow fans to adjust their focus to the east. 

Gallagher, as a known commodity for many years, should bring plenty of European eyeballs with him on his new adventure. And based on this conversation, he’s champing at the bit to give Japan its first taste of “The Jimmy Show.” 

“They’re making MMA explode over here again,” he says. 

“They know what I bring to the table and I fully intend on giving that to them. They’re going to give me tough fights and I know they’ll expect me to sell this show, and I’m happy to do it. I really wanted to get on a RIZIN card when they were co-promoting with Bellator, do the big entrances and all of that stuff, so I’m so glad I’m getting that chance now. Mark my words, I’m going to blow the roof off this place on Sunday.” 

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