Lindland-Casey Added to May 21 Strikeforce Challengers

Matt Lindland and Kevin Casey will meet in a middleweight bout at Strikeforce Challengers 8 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore., the promotion announced Thursday.

The event series, which spotlights the promotion’s up-and-coming talent, will air live on Showtime.

A 12-time UFC veteran, Lindland was an Olympic silver medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 games. The 39-year-old veteran suffered back-to-back losses in 2009 against Vitor Belfort at Affliction 2 in January 2009 and Ronaldo Souza at Strikeforce “Evolution” last December. Souza, a world-decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, submitted Lindland with an arm-triangle choke in the first round.

One of the founders of Team Quest, Lindland holds victories over Phil Baroni (twice), former UFC champion Pat Miletich and Ricardo Almeida.

Casey, who is managed by reality TV fixture Spencer Pratt, earned a first-round submission win against Chad Vance in his promotional debut at Strikeforce Challengers 5 in November 2009. Casey is 3-1in professional bouts.

Also on the card, undefeated Roger Bowling will face Bobby Voelker in a welterweight bout. Bowling, a standout on the Midwest scene, holds victories over Strikeforce alumnus Shamar Bailey and current “Ultimate Fighter” contestant Seth Baczynski. Voelker bested Erik Apple by second-round strikes at Strikeforce Challengers 5.

Elsewhere on the card, Tyron Woodley faces Nat Coy in a headlining welterweight bout, and undefeated Kerry Vera will meet Julianna Pena in a women’s 135-pound matchup.

Woodley, a two-time collegiate All-American wrestler at the University of Missouri, delivered his sixth career victory with a first-round arm-triangle choke against local standout Rudy Bears at Challengers 5 last November in Kansas City, Kan.

Team Quest fighter Coy has earned first-round stoppages in his last three outings, which included wins over JT Taylor and Travis Bush. Coy holds key victories against UFC veterans Ricky Story and Mike Pierce.

Vera, a decorated muay Thai fighter who trains with her husband and UFC veteran Brandon at their Alliance gym in Chula Vista, Calif., earned a one-sided, first-round technical knockout over Kim Couture at the November event as well. The 27-year-old Vera is 2-0 in MMA.

Pena earned a second-round armbar submission against Stephanie Webber at CageSport MMA in Tacoma, Wash., in her second professional bout last December.