James Gallagher’s return will come at 145 pounds.
Gallagher (11-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) meets Cris Lencioni (11-3 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) at Bellator 298 on Aug. 11 at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
A person with knowledge of the booking recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking, but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Severe MMA was first to report the matchup.
Gallagher hasn’t competed since a Round 3 submission loss to new interim champion Patchy Mix in November 2021. The 26-year-old has withdrew from the bantamweight grand prix due to a hand injury that required surgery, as well as bouts against Brett Johns and Leandro Higo. Prior to his loss to Mix, Gallagher was on a four-fight winning streak, including three by submission.
Lencioni is coming off a second-round inverted triangle submission finish of Blake Smith at Bellator 294 in April. “Sunshine” currently is on a four-fight winning streak.
With the addition, the Bellator 298 lineup includes:
- Logan Storley vs. Brennan Ward
- Valentin Moldavsky vs. Steve Mowry
- Aaron Jeffery vs. Dalton Rosta
- Islam Mamedov vs. Sidney Outlaw
- Weber Almeida vs. Lucas Brennan
- James Gallagher vs. Cris Lencioni
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 298.
