Chael Sonnen (photo via Bellator)

By FCF Staff

Chael Sonnen apparently doesn’t think much of karate, but that doesn’t mean he’s not keenly aware of how dangerous Lyoto Machida can be.

Sonnen will fight the former UFC champ in the headliner of Bellator 222 on Friday, in what will be the card’s co-main event. While discussing Machida recently, and the fact the Brazilian star’s fighting style is karate centric, Sonnen said this (quote via MMA Junkie):

“Looking at it going in with, say the intimidation factor, he’s right up there because he’s so weird,” Sonnen said. “I don’t have anybody in Portland that does what he does. We don’t do karate. In my mind we settled this debate of wrestlers vs. karate guys in 1993. That’s what I thought happened, but he stuck around, and that’s a credit to him. But somehow he’s found a way to make a sport that sucks effective.”

The 42-year-old Sonnen (30-16-1) will be fighting for the first time since he was stopped by Fedor Emelianenko in October. The 41-year-old Machida (25-8) is coming off a split decision win over Rafael Carvalho in December, in what was “The Dragon’s” Bellator debut.