Bellator to return to NYC with Chael Sonnen main eventing against Lyoto Machida

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.