Bellator MMA will be returning to pay-per-view for the first time since Bellator 120 in May 2014 with Bellator 180: Sonnen vs. Silva.
The event will also be taking place in the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York, York and will be the promotion's debut in New York.
Sonnen (28-15-1) is currently winless under the Bellator MMA banner, dropping a fight to the now retired Tito Ortiz at Bellator 170 earlier this year. Sonnen is a longtime veteran of the UFC, where he unsuccessfully challenged for the UFC Middleweight Title (twice) and the UFC Light Heavyweight Title. During his two separate runs in the UFC, the outspoken fighter earned key victories over Trevor Prangley, Dan Miller, Yushin Okami, Nate Marquardt, Brian Stann, Michael Bisping and Mauricio Rua.
Silva (35-12-1-1NC) will be making his Bellator MMA debut in this fight and he will be competing for the first time in over four years. Silva also has a long history in the UFC, earning some victories over the likes of Keith Jardine, Michael Bisping, Cung Le and Brian Stann. Silva was supposed to fight Mirko Cro Cop in the Rizin 2016 Openweight Grand Prix, but pulled out of the fight due to injury.
These two fighters were originally set to clash in the UFC a few years back after coaching on the UFC Ultimate Fighter Brazil. However, the Brazilian was pulled from the fight after apparently escaping a drug test while Sonnen would fail a drug test of his own.
Bellator 180 takes place on Saturday, June 24 from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York with Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva headlining. Fightful will be providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
