Bellator commentator John McCarthy summed up Patchy Mix vs. James Gallagher best: It was a “battle of the guillotine attacks.” And in the end, Mix won out.
Mix overcame his opponent and a deafening home crowd that favored Gallagher to submit the SBG Ireland product 39 seconds into the third round of their Bellator 270 co-main event Friday at 3Arena in Dublin.
The tone was set in the early going of Round 1 when Gallegher got deep on a double leg but found himself in trouble thanks to a standing guillotine counter from Mix. Gallagher, who likely wanted to slam his opponent, showed patience in getting his neck free before taking the action to the mat. The action slowed down on the mat until some separation by Mix, and Gallagher sunk in a guillotine attempt of his own. Mix quickly got free, though, and was in top position with roughly three minutes remaining. The action stalled again, and with 90 seconds remaining, they got back to their feet, with Gallagher finding some striking success. Gallagher secured one last takedown in the final 15 seconds, but Mix reversed the position to end the close round in top position.
Gallagher opened with a kick-heavy attack in Round 2 and landed a groin shot in the first 30 seconds. After Mix recovered during a short break, both men showed a willingness to stand and trade until Mix closed the distance with a clinch. Gallagher again went for a guillotine, which appeared tight briefly, but Mix freed his head with three minutes remaining and found himself in top position near the fence. Mix held control but didn’t do much more than land soft punches to the body as Gallagher couldn’t figure a way out. In the final 30 seconds, Mix advanced to a crucifix position and landed some punches to close the round.
Perhaps feeling like he was down two rounds, Gallagher wasted no time pushing the action on the feet. When he shot in for a takedown, Mix stuffed it and immediately went for another guillotine. This time he jumped it, and it appeared tight. The position immediately got worse for Gallagher, who had no choice but to tap out once Mix rolled over on top of him.
🔥 @TeamMixMMA with a moment of submission brilliance!💪
🇺🇸The American silences the @3ArenaDublin crowd with the victory via guillotine.#Bellator270 pic.twitter.com/cbkDPVj0ae
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) November 5, 2021
The victory brings some closure to a rivalry that developed after two prior cancellations between the rising 145-pound contenders. Mix, who missed weight by two pounds for the bout, won his second straight while snapping Gallagher’s winning streak at four.
- Patchy Mix def. James Gallagher via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 0:39
- Pedro Carvalho def. Daniel Weichel via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ilias Bulaid def. Georges Sasu via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
- Ciaran Clarke def. Jordan Barton via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:11
- Daniele Scatizzi def. Brian Hooi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Lee Chadwick def. Arunas Andriuskevicus via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
- Gokhan Saricam def. Charlie Milner via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:15
- Nicolo Solli def. Bobby Pallett via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
- Danni Neilan def. Audrey Kerouche via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 3:58
- Yusuf Nazokatov def. Stephen Costello via submission (heel hook) – Round 2, 2:24