MMA Bellator to return to NYC with Chael Sonnen main eventing against Lyoto Machida by Daniel Yanofsky April 9, 2019 The last time Chael Sonnen fought inside Madison Square Garden, he faced one of the best the MMA had to offer in Wanderlei Silva. Now, he does it again, this time against Lyoto Machida. Bellator’s Scott Coker announced that Sonnen (31-16-1) and Machida (25-8) will clash in a light heavyweight fight. They will main event the June 14th card, known as Bellator 222. While at the tail end of his long career, Sonnen has proven to still be a huge draw in the world of MMA. With a 2-2 record in Bellator, “The American Gangster” is looking to get back on track following a loss to Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 208. Once competing in the Heavyweight Grand Prix, Sonnen has decided to move down to a more natural position. Machida signed with Bellator in 2018, beating Rafael Carvalho via split decision in December. The 40-year-old is looking to prove he has a lot left in the tank. Additionally, some local competitors will be on the Bellator 222 card. Dillon Dannis, a notable friend of Conor McGregor’s, will face off against Max Humphrey. Dannis (1-0) is looking to prove something in the catchweight fight. He will also bringing his act with him. Heather Hardy will also be in action. The boxing champion in Hardy (2-1 MMA) is looking to maintain a healthy dose of MMA in her life for the next few months. Her opponent at the time has been unnamed. Finally, Neiman Gracie of the legendary Gracie family will continue his quest to win championship gold. Gracie (9-0) will meet the winner of the upcoming Rory MaDonald v. Jon Fitch match in a semi-final bout of the Welterweight Grand Prix. Whoever wins that matchup will be the champion when they face Gracie, as stated in the rules of the tournament. That means Gracie could enter the finals as a champion already. The fight will air exclusively on DAZN, and ticket information will be released shortly. Post Views: 583 The following two tabs change content below.BioLatest Posts Daniel Yanofsky Baseball Editor, Misc. Sports Editor. Covers all things combat sports (MMA, Pro Wrestling and Boxing). When he's not writing, Daniel hosts a podcast, The Main Event. Latest posts by Daniel Yanofsky (see all) Mets hire Luis Rojas to replace Carlos Beltran as manager - January 23, 2020 An Outsider’s 2020 Hall of Fame Ballot - January 21, 2020 A Wild Yo Sighting: Yoenis Cespedes participates in running, fielding and hitting drills - January 21, 2020 Following Conor McGregor’s win at UFC 246, is “The King” truly back? - January 20, 2020 Related TopicsBellator 222Bellator MMAbellator nycBellator Welterweight Grand PrixChael SonnenDillon DannisHeather HardyLyoto MachidammaNeiman Gracie 3 Comments You must be logged in to post a comment Login Leave a Reply Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Newsletter Subscription Can't Miss Posts! Women in Sports: NHL Network Host, Jackie Redmond by Nicholas Durst | posted on March 4, 2019 Passion For Sports Led Kelly Burke To Career As Broadcaster by Sunil Sunder Raj | posted on November 16, 2020 Women in Sports: Podcast Host, New York Riptide Sideline Reporter, Dani Wexelman by Luke Porco | posted on March 3, 2020 CBI to Utilize Experimental Men’s Basketball Rules Including Use of Quarters by Media Release | posted on March 9, 2017 Tim Capstraw reflects back on path to becoming Brooklyn Nets radio color analyst by Sunil Sunder Raj | posted on October 20, 2020 More in MMA The Mockery of A Sport: Paul vs. Askren Jake Paul and Ben Askren are set to fight tonight, and as a fan... The Leverage Game: What’s Going on Between Jon Jones and UFC? After Francis Ngannou knocked out Stipe Miocic, fight fans everywhere were already excited about... Athletes and their “Charitable” Contributions The other day I was watching TV when I saw a commercial for Conor... Should the Holloway vs. Katter fight have been Stopped in the 4th Round? Dana White thought so… In my honest opinion, when it comes to sports there is nothing like watching... Live Stream: Bellator NYC Press Conference Chael Sonnen on fighting Lyoto Machida at Bellator 222, the future of MMA