Bellator 275 Dublin takes place on Friday 25th of February at the 3 Arena in Dublin. The card is Headlined by MMA legend Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi as he looks to retain his middleweight title against undefeated grappling ace Austin Vanderford.
Today we take a look at the Irish delegation competing on the card, as well as their matchups.
Bellator 275 Dublin: Who Are the Fighting Irish on the Card?
PETER QUEALLY
The highest placed Irishman on the card is SBG Ireland product Peter “The Showstopper” Queally, who takes on Kane Mousah in the co-main event. Mousah is a 14 year MMA veteran coming back from a decision loss to Davy Gallon in which he received a large cut on his face but was lauded by fans for the heart he displayed in the loss.
Queally himself is coming from a loss to Patricky Pitbull, who is widely regarded as one of the best fighters outside the UFC today. “The Showstopper” had won their previous encounter via a doctors stoppage due to a cut sustained by Pitbull.
Queally has long been one of Ireland’s most popular fighters, and with his opponent Mousah not known for his boring fights, this one is sure to have Dublin on its feet.
An All Irish Featherweight Affair
LEAH MCCOURT
Leah McCourt is the first of two Irish competitors in this all Irish women’s featherweight bout.
The Northern Ireland born contender McCourt comes into this one of the back of 6 straight wins, with three coming by stoppage. Considered one of the premier competitors in her weight class, her fight is an all Irish, all SBG clash that is sure to draw out a strong response from the natives.
SINEAD KAVANAGH
McCourt’s opponent that night is none other than SBG Ireland veteran Sinead Kavanagh. She is a hard-hitting, no-nonsense fighter looking to avenge her last outing against pound for pound female fighter Cris Cyborg, who she lost to by knockout at Bellator 271.
Before the loss, “K.O” was on a two-fight win streak, including an impressive stoppage victory over Olga Rubin and looks to repeat against McCourt as they look to decide who the top Irish female is in this fantastic featherweight clash.
BRIAN MOORE
Eleven years on from his pro debut, Brian Moore is making the walk into a Bellator 275 Dublin, still needing to have his crowning moment.
To register his first win in front of the Irish fans at the 3 arena would only be fair to this globetrotting brawler, who has competed in many parts of the world for the Bellator organization. The opponent isn’t an easy one for the 34-year-old, with undefeated American Jornel Lugo having no intention of being the defeated villain in this would be a fairy-tale.
Bellator 275 Dublin : Irelands Top Talent?
DARRAGH KELLY
His record may read 0-0-0, but a fairly large amount of fans think Kelly might be the best prospect on the Bellator Dublin card.
Darragh Kelly is a 9-0 amateur fighting out of the infamous SBG Ireland gym, and even more impressively, he steamrolled through the amateur ranks with a 100% finish rate, not an easy feat. He takes on the 3-0 Junior Morgan, a 35-year-old with amateur experience dating back to 2013. Morgan has never been finished, and Kelly has never failed to finish.
This one has fight of the night potential written all over it.
CIARAN CLARK
Following a globe-spanning 23 fight amateur career, Clark burst onto the Bellator scene in 2019 with a dominant grappling display. He hasn’t looked back since. 4-0 with the organisation, Ciaran Clark is showing signs of a future player in the Bellator featherweight division.
Just how big a player may be further revealed this weekend as he takes on French finisher Abou Tounkara. Only one of Tounkara’s bouts have required judges intervention.
Clarke will hope it stays that way with the home crowds support.
DANNI MCCORMACK
Danni McCormack will be hoping to repeat her last fight against a Frenchwoman in Dublin as she prepares to make the walk again, this time against Stéphanie Page.
33-year-old Page is on a two-fight losing streak, and McCormack looks like a woman who intends to be the 3rd. Winning her last Bellator contest in front of the 3Arena crowd by stoppage, she will be hoping to put another dominant Dublin display on for all her supporters.
Don’t Overlook Kelly
NATHAN KELLY
Many on the Irish regional circuits, Nathan Kelly, will be a name familiar to few abroad. The 24-year-old has been around the amateur scene since 2014 and is on a three-fight winning streak, with all three coming inside the distance.
In his last outing, he shocked many by defeating then-unbeaten U.K. prospect Shem Rock at Clan Wars 42, who many regarded, and still do, as a legitimate prospect at featherweight. Since his early losses, it looks like SBG’s Kelly has turned a corner. It would come as a surprise to none who know him if he steals the show in Dublin.
What fight are you most looking forward to on the Dublin Card?
How many Irish fighters will get that win on home soil?
We will find out at Bellator 275 Dublin on Friday 25th February.
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Featured image credits to Bellator MMA
