What if something happens to Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva? Bellator has 'contingency plan'

What is perhaps the biggest event in Bellator history is a little more than a week away, and it seems the company is not going to leave anything to chance with its pay-per-view headliner between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva.

Sonnen (28-15-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) vs. Silva (35-12-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is more than three years in the making and headlines Bellator NYC, which takes place June 24 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The last time the rivals were scheduled to fight, everything went wrong.

The decision to book two fighters with a combined age of 80 in the state of New York, which in its short history of sanctioning MMA has already made numerous questionable gaffes, is a risky endeavor. However, Bellator President Scott Coker said there’s a backup plan should something unforeseen happen to one or both headliners, even if he doesn’t expect it to be necessary.

“We have a contingency plan, but I’m really just focused on this fight,” Coker told MMAjunkie. “I know it’s going to happen. We talked to Chael in the last couple days. We talked to Wanderlei. He’s ready to come over. This Sunday he’ll be flying to New York, he’ll show up in New York, and they’re going to get it on.”

Coker would not reveal the specifics of his contingency plan but guaranteed fans are going to get a PPV-worthy card both in terms of fight quality and entertainment.

Sonnen and Silva were first scheduled to fight at UFC 175 in July 2014 following a stint as opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.” It was one of the most chaotic seasons in the history of the reality series, with the two rivals engaging in a full-blown fistfight at one point during filming.

The grudge match was one of the most anticipated fights at the time, but it all came crashing down when both fighters encountered drug-testing issues. Silva outright evaded tests, which led to the Brazilian receiving a lifetime ban from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), though his suspension was eventually reduced to three year. However, he hasn’t fought since a March 2013 knockout win over Brain Stann under the UFC banner.

Sonnen, meanwhile, failed multiple tests around the same timeframe, which resulted in a two-year ban from competition. He retired, but when his suspension was up, he signed with Bellator. He made his debut in January and lost to Tito Ortiz by first-round submission.

To ensure there are no hiccups for the long-awaited bout – the kind created by bad blood and not injuries or illness – Coker said the company has enlisted additional security.

“We are going to have security everywhere when those two guys are together,” Coker said. “There is a genuine dislike, and it goes back to three years ago when Wanderlei felt disrespected. He attacked Chael, and they had a big skirmish. It wasn’t just for the cameras. This is something that’s really personal to both of them. … It’s going to be electric when that cage door shuts.”

For more more on Bellator NYC and Bellator 180, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.