Video: Wanderlei Silva discusses Chael Sonnen’s safety on ‘TUF: Brazil 3'

Chael Sonnen is possibly taking a gamble with his safety when he heads south to coach opposite his rival, Wanderlei Silva, on the upcoming third season of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.” Silva, though, said Sonnen only needs to worry about one guy beating him up.

“He’ll be 100 percent safe,” Silva said. “Just one guy is going to beat him, and this guy is me. Nobody (else) is going to touch you. Brazil is different.”

“TUF: Brazil” debuted in 2012, and the second season aired this spring. “TUF 3: Brazil” begins taping shortly for a spring 2014 debut. Silva (35-12-1 MMA, 5-7 UFC) and Sonnen (29-14-1 MMA, 7-7 UFC) both will coach teams of Brazilian fighters, and then they meet at a season-ending card in Brazil.

UFC officials capitalized on the duo’s long-brewing feud – and even announced the coaching assignments and upcoming fight before Sonnen’s recent UFC 167 loss to Rashad Evans. While Sonnen, who’s often made Brazil the target of his humor, often suggests it’s all in good fun, Silva doesn’t see it that way.

“It’s a joke for you, but it’s not a joke for me and not for my country,” he said. “But don’t worry. You’re going to be safe. But you’re going to pay for all the [comments] in June.”

Couldn’t Silva simply be taking things too seriously? Possibly. But Silva said his best training partners understand he’s an intense guy, which he thinks Sonnen will learn soon enough.

“I don’t like fake people,” he said. “I don’t like jokes. I don’t like guys who talk stupid things about me, and when you say (those things), you’re going to need to pay.”