In the thrilling showdown between Leandro Higo and James Gallagher at the Bellator Champions Series in Belfast, it was Higo who emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle.
With both fighters displaying impressive skill, it was a close contest until the final moments when Higo surged ahead, securing a unanimous decision win at the SSE Arena. The judges’ scorecards unanimously favored Higo with a 29-28 decision after an intense 15 minutes of action.
The momentum shifted early on when Higo delivered a powerful spinning elbow, staggering Gallagher towards the end of the first round. Seizing the opportunity, Higo swiftly took the fight to the ground, showcasing his dominance with a barrage of ground-and-pound strikes.
Round 2 saw a tighter exchange, with both fighters trading blows cautiously. Despite Gallagher’s efforts to find his rhythm, an unintentional kick to the groin momentarily halted the action. However, Gallagher finished the round strong, demonstrating his prowess in the standup game.
Entering the pivotal third round, it was Higo who dictated the pace, executing a monumental takedown that showcased his superior grappling skills. Controlling Gallagher on the canvas, Higo delivered a relentless assault of strikes, leaving Gallagher struggling to mount a counterattack.
With this victory, Higo extends his winning streak to two fights, while Gallagher falls short of maintaining his momentum following a split decision triumph over James Gonzalez last August.
