“The StrabAnimal” will return after 16 months on the sidelines at Bellator 292.
Strabane, Northern Ireland’s James Gallagher (11-2) will face Brazilian Leandro Higo (21-6) at the event on March 10, 2023, in a bantamweight match-up.
Severe MMA was first to report the news on Wednesday, with Gallagher later confirming the match-up on social media.
Gallagher last fought at Bellator 270 in November 2021, where he was submitted by Patchy Mix. That setback snapped a four-fight win streak for Gallagher, who had three submission wins during that stretch.
Higo saw a three-fight win streak of his own snapped back in June, when he was defeated by Danny Sabatello. The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 alum has been with Bellator MMA since 2017.
Bellator 292 will take place on March 10, 2023 at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA. Two lightweight quarterfinal bouts top the event, including Usman Nurmagomedov defending his 155lb title against ex-UFC champ Benson Henderson.
- Usman Nurmagomedov (c) vs. Benson Henderson – for the Bellator MMA lightweight championship / lightweight grand prix quarterfinal
- Tofiq Musayev vs. Alexander Shabliy – lightweight grand prix quarterfinal
- Linton Vassell vs. Valentin Moldavsky
- Josh Hill vs. Cass Bell
- Leandro Higo vs. James Gallagher
- Keri Taylor-Melendez vs. Bruna Ellen
- Laird Anderson vs. Rogelio Luna
- Wladmir Gouvea vs. Sean Tucker
- Theo Haig vs. Adam Wamsley
- Dupree Stewart vs. Demetri Georgiades
- Érik Pérez vs. Enrique Barzola
- James Gallagher vs. Leandro Higo
