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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun and Simon Head

Bellator’s Cal Ellenor doesn’t care if James Gallagher isn’t next – he just wants to fight

The Cal Ellenor vs. James Gallagher matchup has been scrapped yet again.

The pair first was matched this past September in the Bellator Dublin main event, but Ellenor was forced off the card due to medical clearance issues. They were rebooked to fight in February in another Dublin headliner, but it was Gallagher who was forced out due to injury.

Finally, they were matched up for the main event of the upcoming Bellator London card on May 16. But, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the next three Bellator events have been suspended indefinitely.

It means it’s been over a year since Ellenor (8-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) last fought, when he submitted Nathan Greyson in the first round at Bellator Europe 1 in Newcastle. Now he’s just eager to get back in there, regardless of the opponent.

“Obviously, it’s a good fight to make for where the division’s at now and stuff like that,” Ellenor told MMA Junkie. “I feel like it’s a good stylistic fight, as well. Obviously, it’s been built up now but at the same time, it’s been that long in the making now, it’s just like, I’m not bothered if I fight James or not. I just want to fight somebody. So if it is James, and it comes back around, I do think the fight will eventually happen one day but if it’s our next fight then cool. If not, then it is what it is.”

Throughout the cancellations, the pre-fight trash talk continued to build up, and the two engaged in a heated face-off and had to be separated when Gallagher confronted Ellenor at the Bellator showcase event in New York last month.

But Ellenor isn’t worried about the matchup potentially falling through again. He’s confident that they will fight regardless, at some point in their careers.

“I feel like we’re going to meet on the same path anyway, so I just want to fight,” Ellenor said. “If they say James is next, I’ll sign again as I have every other time and, if not, whoever it is next, I’ll fight anyway. I just want to get busy and get back to being active.”

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