James Gallagher gained significant insights from training alongside Conor McGregor, with one specific lesson proving particularly impactful.
Known as ‘Strabanimal’, Gallagher is set for his awaited return on June 14th at 971 FC in Dubai, UAE, where he will face Fabrício Soares.
Fans anticipate seeing his renowned trash talk and impressive striking, skills he largely refined while training at SBG in Dublin, Ireland.
The MMA fighter recently shared the most valuable lesson he absorbed from sparring sessions with ‘The Notorious’.
McGregor`s Lesson: Maintaining Mentality Through Injury
At the young age of 20, James Gallagher competed against Chinzo Machida, the younger brother of Lyoto Machida, at Bellator 180 held at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, USA.
He delivered a memorable performance, submitting the Brazilian fighter with a first-round rear-naked choke.
Handling the pressure of such a major event at that age is difficult for most, but Gallagher appeared unfazed.
Gallagher revealed that his resilient mindset was significantly shaped by his time with Conor McGregor, particularly by observing how the star dealt with a serious injury shortly before a major UFC fight.
In a recent interview, Gallagher shared: “Training and sparring with Conor when I was starting out was incredible; witnessing that level of mindset and skill was truly impressive.”
“I didn’t just learn skills,” he noted, “but also crucial aspects of mentality, preparation for big events, and managing pressure.”
“Conor operates at the very highest level,” Gallagher continued. “Absorbing small pieces from that experience, the most significant takeaway was learning to maintain a strong mental state even when facing adversity.”
“I recall his first fight against Dustin Poirier,” Gallagher recounted. “He broke his thumb just three weeks beforehand. I even went to the hospital with Gunnar Nelson.”
“Witnessing all the challenges he faced leading up to such a significant event, and seeing him still uphold that mindset, was remarkable.”
“Suffering a broken thumb during peak training just weeks before a major fight is incredibly damaging mentally. Being around him during that time was a great learning experience.”
Recalling a Wild Brawl and a Helping Hand from Khabib`s Father
Gallagher`s journey in MMA has included some unforgettable moments.
He once traveled to Moscow, Russia, to corner his teammate, Peter Queally.
Following his teammate`s decisive victory, the crowd`s reaction was far from positive.
Gallagher recently shared how Khabib Nurmagomedov`s father stepped in to protect him from objects being thrown by the upset crowd.
