Ricky Bandejas has spoken out about his 2018 knockout victory over James Gallagher in their bantamweight fight at Bellator 204.

The fight was James Gallagher’s first career loss, climaxing with an absolutely brutal knockout.

Conor McGregor’s teammate, who is being dubbed a Conor McGregor wannabe, was running his mouth in the pre-fight press conferences, and even got in his opponent's face ahead of the fight.

However, he was humbled and humiliated once the bell rang, being dropped numerous times.

American Bandjeas has stated that he thought Bellator were setting him up to lose as the pre-fight discussion prior to the bout was largely centred around Gallagher’s future after the win.

It was stated that a win over Bandejas would mean a certain title shot for the Irishman.

Bandejas, of course, quashed any hopes of that, stopping ‘The Strabanimal’ ruthlessly in the first round.

Taking a page right out of McGregor’s playbook, Gallagher taunted the American in the pre-fight press conferences, and when it came to fight night, screamed in the American’s face.

Security then had to separate the pair moments before their bout.

In the early knockings, Bandejas dropped Gallagher with a right hand that caught the Irishman flush before Bandejas dealt out a devastating kick that landed on his chin.

Bandejas then dived into a ground and pound before official Bobby Wombacher called a halt to proceedings just two minutes and 49 seconds into the bout.

Bandejas has claimed that he had received "thousands" of grateful comments following the fight.

"Hundreds, thousands of comments saying how happy they are this happened to him," he said.

"It's terrible, but at the same time it gives him attention and the promoters love attention, whether it's good or bad, it doesn't matter."

Bandejas also revealed what Gallagher muttered to him in the heated staredowns.

"10-2. You're not on my level. I'm on a new level. I'm going to smash you.' Things like that. (Before the fight) he was down right around the corner, you heard him screaming.

"Ricky, I'm coming. 10-2. You're not on my level. You're ****ed.' He didn't bother me at all, but in the hallway and when he got in my face in the cage, I was like, 'How could this guy be so confident?"

Bandejas most recently fought on the Bellator 225 undercard, securing a first-round knockout over Ahmet Kayretli to take his record to 12-3.

James Gallagher has since bounced back from his first professional loss with three wins in Bellator in 2019 over Roman Salazar, Jeremiah Labiano and Steven Graham.