Bellator MMA is just two days away from its upcoming mixed martial arts (MMA) event in London, England, and today held a special pre-fight press conference for the Gegard Mousasi vs. Rafael Lovato Jr.-led fight card.
While all eyes were expected to be focused on “The Dreamcatcher” ahead of his showdown against the undefeated Brazilian, it was Irish hothead James Gallagher who garnered most of the attention, thanks to an impromptu altercation with …
Well, that’s where it gets weird. Gallagher, who battles featherweight bruiser Jeremiah Labiano, thought he was arguing with his opponent’s coach. But Labiano insists the person of interest was not a coach and just a member of his traveling posse.
Even that’s in question, based on this exchange transcribed by MMA Fighting:
“Shut your f*cking mouth or I’ll come down there and slap you,” Gallagher said.
“Mate, you sit there and shut your f*cking mouth,” he said, taking aim at him again after a brief back and forth with Labiano. “You’re a coach…you’re a coach…let your fighter do his thing. You sit and shut your f*cking mouth. It’s not your job, you coach him, you train him to come and fight and you sit there and you shut your f*cking mouth.”
“I don’t even know those guys,” said Labiano from the dais.
“Mate, you shut your f*cking mouth. I’ve seen you walk around the hotel with him all week. It’s your coach. How unprofessional, your coach is sitting there like a little f*cking fool,” Gallagher replied.
“You’re scared, my coach isn’t even here,” said Labiano.
“Mate, he’s sitting right there in front of me,” Gallagher responded.
“That ain’t my coach,” Labiano reiterated.
“These guys are braindead, I feel sorry for them,” said Gallagher.
“You’ve been on my Instagram all day, you should know who my coach is,” Labiano interrupted.
After the staredowns, Gallagher chased down the alleged coach, which you can see in the embedded video above. Maybe Bellator MMA can go full WWE (wouldn’t be the first time) and make this a handicap match?
For much more on Bellator London click here.