Arlovski-Silva, Overeem-Rogers Announced for May 15 Strikeforce

Heavyweight bouts between Alistair Overeem and Brett Rogers and Andrei Arlovski against Antonio Silva will anchor Strikeforce “St. Louis: Heavy Artillery” on May 15 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., the promotion announced on Friday.

Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem returns to the promotion in the non-title bout following a 30-month absence from the U.S.-based promotion. In the interim, the 6-foot-5 Golden Glory striker has amassed seven victories in eight fights (1 NC) in various promotions, including Dream, Ultimate Glory, and K-1 in Japan. Overeem also participated in K-1’s popular year-end kickboxing grand prix.

Previously undefeated Rogers was stopped by Fedor Emelianenko with strikes in the second round at the promotion’s November “Fedor vs. Rogers” effort in Hoffmann Estates, Ill. The bout garnered over five million viewers during a live CBS telecast.

Rogers, 29, earned his crack at the world’s No. 1 heavyweight with a 22-second knockout against Arlovski at Strikeforce “Lawler vs. Shields” last June in St. Louis, Mo. The Minnesotan striker also holds wins over Jon Murphy and James Thompson.

Arlovski, a former UFC heavyweight champion, will look to rebound from back-to-back knockouts against Rogers and Emelianenko in his sophomore effort with the promotion.

Arlovski, who went 11-4 in the UFC between 2000-2008 with key victories against Vladimir Matyushenko, Tim Sylvia, Paul Buentello, Marcio Cruz, and Fabricio Werdum, boxed a four-round exhibition match against former heavyweight contender Fres Oquendo earlier this month in Miami for “The Consequences Charity. The 31-year-old Belarusian is currently training with American Kickboxing Academy fighters Cain Velasquez, Mike Kyle, and Daniel Cormier in San Jose, Calif., before returning to his Team Pitbull homebase in Chicago for final preparations.

American Top Team’s Silva dropped a unanimous decision to Fabricio Werdum at Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Rogers” in Hoffmann Estates, Ill., the Brazilian’s first fight back on U.S. soil following a one-year suspension for alleged steroids use by the California State Athletic Commission. During his suspension, the one-time EliteXC heavyweight champion notched first-round victories against Yoshihiro Nakao and Jim York for the Sengoku promotion in Japan.

Strikeforce St. Louis “Heavy Artillery” broadcasts live on Showtime.