Strikeforce Challengers VIII: "Lindland vs. Casey" is all set for tonight (May 21) at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. The five-fight main card will air live on the premium cable channel Showtime beginning at 11 p.m. ET.
Headlining the card will be Portland's own Matt "The Law" Lindland, taking on up and coming Brazilian jiu jitsu fighter "King" Kevin Casey. Decorated collegiate wrestler and undefeated welterweight Tyron "T-Wood" Woodley will be featured in the co-main event opposite hometown favorite Nathan Coy.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of the event, beginning with the Showtime telecast at 11 p.m. ET.
Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the Showtime telecast to share their thoughts on the action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment (or 10) before you leave and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show -- it always turns out to be a great discussion.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps and post-fight analysis after "Lindland vs. Casey."
Strikeforce Challenger Series VIII QUICK RESULTS:
Main card (Showtime):
Matt "The Law" Lindland defeats "King" Kevin Casey via technical knockout (strikes) at 3:41 of round three
Tyron "T-Wood" Woodley vs. Nathan Coy defeats via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
Roger Bowling defeats Bobby Voelker via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Tarec "Sponge" Saffiedine defeats Nate Moore via knockout (punch) at 1:21 of round two
Pat "Bam Bam" Healy defeats Bryan Travers via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
205 lbs.: Pro Escobedo vs. Jason Sharp
155 lbs.: Blaine Macintosh vs. Ben Morgan
170 lbs.: Jay Schafer vs. David Lloyd
205 lbs.: Patrick Whittington vs. Jason Lambert
185 lbs.: Lee Flores vs. Hamza Salim
Strikeforce Challenger Series VIII PLAY-BY-PLAY LIVE MAIN CARD COMMENTARY:
James here!
185 lbs.: Matt "The Law" Lindland vs. "King" Kevin Casey
Round one: Casey shows a kick, but Lindland circles out. Casey initiates a clinch and Lindland slams him to the mat. Punches from Lindland. Lindland stands now and lands another punch. Casey is back to his feet, but Lindland has ahold of him. Casey reverses and pins Lindland against the fence. Nice dirty boxing from Lindland. Lindland tries a guillotine, but Casey slides out. Takedown for Casey now and he's on top of Lindland. Now he's got his back, but both hooks! Lindland is trying to turn out of it, but Casey lock up the body lock now. Lindland is in trouble here. Casey has over a minute and a half left to work for this choke. He lets go of the body lock, but he's still in a great position. Lindland working some punches over his head now. Lindland explodes out and now he's on top in Casey's full guard. Punches from Lindland and Casey gets back to his feet. Lindland is right on top of him and he unloads a series of knees to Casey's head. The round ends there. Casey may have stole that one.
Round two: Casey looking for the clinch right away. Lindland pins him against the fence and he goes back to the dirty boxing. Lindland has his back now and bully's him to the mat. Lindland smothering Casey with punches now. Nice ground and pound from The Law. North south position for Lindland now. Casey stands, but Lindland tosses him back to the floor. Lindland is all over Casey and he continues to work the ground strikes. Casey isn't doing much from his back here, but trying to avoid punches. And he's not doing a real good job. Lindland is manhandling him. Casey has full guard now, and now he's looking for an armbar. Lindland shrugs it off and goes back to work with hammer fists and punches. Lindland traps Casey's arm now in a crucifix and he's unloading punches with ten seconds to go. Casey reverses at the end and the bell sounds. That round was all Matt Lindland.
Round three: Casey wants no part of striking and he lazily tries to clinch before Lindland muscles him back to the canvas. Lindland traps his arm and rains down more punches. Casey frees his arm, but he's still taking a beating. Lindland is nailing Casey with punches. Casey is in trouble and the referee is getting a closer and closer look here. Lindland continues to fire away as Casey hangs on for dear life. His arm is trapped again and he's eating elbows and punches. He gets his arm free again and he's defending the punches. Lindland turns it on now and Casey is getting pounded. This has to be it, and it is. The referee steps in and ends the massacre.
Final Result: Matt "The Law" Lindland defeats "King" Kevin Casey via technical knockout (strikes) at 3:41 of round three
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170 lbs.: Tyron "T-Wood" Woodley vs. Nathan Coy
Round one: Coy charges forward right away with a leg kick. Woodley counters with a lightning fast right hand and they go right into a clinch. Trip takedown from Woodley now and he's on top of Coy. Punches from the bottom from Coy. To half guard for Woodley. Now to full mount. Coy is able to get out right away, though, and he's back to his feet. He lunges forward with another kick and again Woodley makes him pay with a big right hand. Coy drops to the floor and Woodley pounces. North south position for Woodley now. Coy stands and leans in with a nice combination. Leg kick from Coy, then he shoots for a takedown. Woodley sprawls and transitions to Coy's back. He flattens him out momentarily, but Coy fights his way out and back to his feet. Nice left hand from Coy. Coy with a takdown attempt now and Woodley again sprawls and shrugs it off. Knees from the clinch now from Coy. Coy has done a nice job matching pace with Woodley here. He can't get a trip takedown, but he continues to work the knees to Woodley's legs. The referee calls for a separation an Coy goes back to work with leg kicks and knees. High kick from Coy and now he shoots. Woodley sprawls again and has his back pinned against the cage. Reversal from Woodley and a big knee lands on the break. Coy has Woodley backpedaling on the exchanges. His kicks are starting to wear on him. Back into the clinch and Coy lands a nice knee to the body. The round ends there, and I'd have to give it to Coy.
Round two: Coy comes right out and takes the center of the cage. Woodley misses with a lazy leg kick. Coy tries to capitalize, but Woodley circles out. Coy leans in with some punches and gets stood up by a hard left hand from Woodley. Nice body punch from Woodley. Coy comes forward again with a kick and again pays for it with a nice combination from Woodley. Another leg kick from Coy. Back in the clinch. Nice knees from Coy. Woodley is getting beat in the clinch. Referee wants a separation and now Woodley has an eye issue. They pause momentarily, but he's okay and we're back underway. Nice right hand lands for Woodley. Body kick from Coy. Nice right hand stuns Coy now. Big combination from Woodley and Coy looked wobbly for a second. Coy slips on a high kick attempt and Woodley wastes no time jumping on top of him with punches. He has a north south position. Now he has Coy's back. He's got his hooks in and he's looking for the choke. Coy turns onto his stomach and Woodley unloads a few punches before going back in for the choke. More punches now from Woodley. Coy turns and Woodley has full mount now. Armbar now for Woodley and Coy get saved by the bell. Wow! Great action there. 10-9 for Woodley.
Round three: Coy comes forward right away and backs Woodley into the fence. He circles out now as Coy lands a leg kick. Woodley looks tired. Nice body punch from Woodley. Nice right hand lands from Coy. More inside leg kicks from Coy. Woodley looks frustrated by those. Nice flurry from Woodley. Coy leans in and Woodley connects again. Inside leg kick lands for Coy again. Woodley with another set of punches, but Coy is right on top of him with kicks and straight punches. Coy kicks again, but this time Woodley makes him pay with a takedown. Woodley takes his back rather easily and he's working for the choke. Coy stands, but Woodley is still on his back. Coy turns into him and now he gets a slam takedown and he's on top of Woodley. Woodley is trying to find submission from his back, but Coy has him stacked up and he's landing punches to the body. Coy is smothering him with a minute to go. Woodley isn't doing much from his back and Coy is drilling his ribs with punches. North south position for Coy. Now side control. The fight ends there. That was Coy's round, and I think he should win this fight as well.
Final result: Tyron "T-Wood" Woodley vs. Nathan Coy defeats via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
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170 lbs.: Roger Bowling vs. Bobby Voelker
Round one: Big exchange right away and Bowling lands some big punches. Voelker stumbles backwards from the onslaught and Bowling has a takedown. He gets to half guard as Voelker has recovered. Voelker's back to his feet and he eats some more big punches from Bowling. Bowling's looking for the takedown again, but he lets go and decides to unload more punches to a wounded Voelker, who has blood leaking from his head. Huge right hands and left hooks from Bowling! Voelker looks wobbly, but he's hanging in there. Bowling is really putting it on him here, though. Back into the clinch and Bowling has Voelker pinned against the fence. Voelker seems to be hanging on here. Bowling separates and fires away with two head kicks. Voelker continues to stay in there and take the punishment. Now more right hands from Bowling! Voelker is right there, though. He fires back with a jab and and uppercut. Hard body kick lands for Bowling. Nice left hook from Voelker. Huge uppercut lands for Bowling. He follows it up with a left hook. How is Voelker still standing? Now Voelker's throwing punches and he lands a knee as Bowling shoots in for a takedown. He picks Voelker up and drives him into the canvas. He's in half guard again, working punches. Voelker gets full guard back with twenty seconds to go. The round ends there. Big round for Bowling and a great start to this fight.
Round two: Big exchange right away and Voelker goes down! Bowling pounces. He's trying to finish the fight here, but somehow Voelker recovers and gets full guard. Ground strikes from Bowling. Now he's looking for a kimura. Voelker escapes and gets back to his feet, but Bowling makes him pay for it with a hard right hand. I have no idea how Voelker is still in this fight. Bowling is relentless. More punches land, but Voelker stands tough again. Hard leg kicks from Bowling. Bowling connects right on the chin with a ridiculous left hand, but Bowling just eats it and keeps coming forward. Bowling with another takedown and now he's landing ground strikes from Voelker's guard again. Voelker trying to find a guillotine, but it's not there. More punches from Bowling. Voelker is going to be in some pain tomorrow. The referee calls for a stand up now and Voelker connects with a one-two combo. Takedown now for Voelker. Bowling gets back to his feet and drives Voelker's back into the cage with thirty seconds to go in the round. Trip takedown from Bowling and the round ends there. Another 10-9 for Bowling.
Round three: Voelker charges forward and he connects on a few punches. Bowling doesn't like that and looks for another takedown. He gets it, but Voelker transitions and takes the top position. Bowling works back to his feet, though, and now they're back in the clinch. Nice dirty boxing from Voelker. Knees from Voelker. The referee separates them. Bowling is having a problem with his eye and there's a stop in the action while the referee tends to him. He caught a finger to the eye on the break and he's having trouble seeing now. There's a doctor in the cage. This has been a long break. The doctor has been in the ring for a couple minutes now. Bowling can't open his eye and this fight has been called. They're going to go to cards since it was unintentional, and Bowling should take the decision.
Final result: Roger Bowling defeats Bobby Voelker via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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170 lbs.: Nate Moore vs. Tarec "Sponge" Saffiedine
Round one: Leg kicks from Moore. Saffiedine easily avoids them and fakes a shoot. Saffiedine connects with a hard right hand. Moore pushes him back with a few jabs and now he shoots in for a quick takedown. He gets it, but Saffiedine hops right back to his feet. More jabs from Moore. Saffiedine with a Thai clinch and Moore explodes out of it with some huge punches. Saffiedine felt those for sure. Moore is working hard to establish his jab. Now he unloads with a hard leg kick. He misses with a superman punch now. Saffiedine is the one moving forward, but Moore is getting the better of the exchanges. Saffiedine connects with a punch now and Moore reacts by shooting for another takedown. Saffiedine sprawls and now he has Moore's back. His hooks are in. Moore is standing, but Saffiedine is latched onto his back with both hooks in. Punches from Saffiedine. Moore is trying to shake him off, and he finally gets him off. Back on their feet and Saffiedine drills Moore with a hard leg kick. Nice left hook from Saffiedine. Moore counters with a hard combination, but doesn't connect on anything. Nice body kick from Moore. Saffiedine continues to walk forward. Now Moore pushes him back with a straight right. Nice push kick right in Moore's gut. Saffiedine lands a big flying knee with ten seconds to go. Moore shakes it off and unloads with a hard combination of punches. Saffiedine retreats and the round comes to a close. Close round. I'd give it to Saffiedine.
Round two: Moore misses with a leg kick to open round two. Saffiedine has the center of the cage and they exchange leg kicks. Saffiedine charges in and both guys land punches. More leg kicks from Saffiedine. Big overhand right from Saffiedine and Moore tries to shoot for a takedown right away. Saffiedine shrugs it off and connects on another huge uppercut that floors Moore. Moore latches on to Saffiedine's leg trying to recover. Saffiedine frees his leg and Moore stands. Saffiedine smells the blood and leans in with an overhand right that connects right on the button. Moore goes down again, and this time the referee has seen enough. Very nice win for Tarec. That was the first knockout win of his career.
Final result: Tarec "Sponge" Saffiedine defeats Nate Moore via knockout (punch) at 1:21 of round two
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155 lbs.: Pat "Bam Bam" Healy vs. Bryan Travers
Round one: Gloves touch and we're underway with the first fight of the night. Healy trades a left hand for a body kick from Travers. Healy leans in again with a few punchs. Travers answers back and they tie up momentarily before separating. Both fighters miss with big rights. Travers initiates a clinch and pins Healy's back against the fence. Healy maneuvers his way out and they separate. Healy shoots in for the takedown. Travers is having none of that. He drives Healy back into the fence and works more dirty boxing before Healy circles his way out and they separate again. Healy using his reach to his advantage now as he connects on a few jabs. Travers doesn't like it and he shoots in and scores a double leg takedown. Healy is working hard and gets back to his feet. Travers connects on a left hand on the way up. There's another exchange and they're right back into the clinch with Travers pinning Healy's back against the fence. Punches from both fighters inside the clinch. Healy with a Thai clinch and he's trying to land knees to the body. Travers pins him back against the fence and works more punches from there. Healy reverses the position and goes back to working the knees to the body. A very close round ends there. Travers had the takedown ... could be the difference.
Round two: Nice left hand for Travers. Healy fires right back and connects with two jabs. More jabs from Healy. He's trying to establish his reach advantage. Now he charges forward with punches and Travers pulls him in for a clinch. Punches to the body from Healy. Nice knee from Healy as they separate. Healy shoots in and picks Travers up for a big slam. Travers is right back up but Healy stays on him and dumps him right back to the canvas. Travers pops up again, but has Healy attached to him. More punches to the body from Healy as Travers works for position. They separate and there's a nice exchange before they go right back into the clinch. Healy looking for the takedown and he gets it. He has Travers' back now as Travers stands. Knees from Healy. Travers goes down to one knee with Healy still on his back. Healy has a hook in but can't get the other. Travers escapes and gets back to his feet, but a relentless Healy is still on him. Big knee from Healy connects on Travers' face. More punches and knees from Healy as Travers is trying to hold on. More body shots. Healy looking for the takedown again and he gets it. Travers pops back up. Healy looking for a guillotine. He lets it go and continues to unload knees and punches to Travers' midsection. Travers misses on a big elbow as the round comes to a close. Big round for Bam Bam.
Round three: Travers with a nice kick, but he eats some punches in return from Healy. Healy working more jabs and now he shoots, picks up Travers and slams him into the mat. Travers again trying to get right back up. Healy stay on him and goes back to working the midsection with knees and punches. Travers with a knee, but Healy counters right back with two more of his own. Healy has done a great job in the clinch. He's winning this fight with dirty boxing and knees to the body. They separate and now Travers shoots in and gets a nice quick takedown. Healy is looking to get back to his feet, but Travers is all over him. Healy looking for a kimura ... Travers gets his arm out, but Healy is back to his feet. Travers has his back, though, and he's gets another trip takedown. Healy right back up and Healy slams him right back down. Healy stands and turns back into Travers. Travers with another big slam. Healy reverses position, stands and suplexes Travers back to the floor. This is crazy. The fight ends there. That was a crazy round. Real close. I think Healy should win this fight, though.
Final result: Pat "Bam Bam" Healy defeats Bryan Travers via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
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