Woodley-Coy, Vera-Pena Set for May 21 Strikeforce Challengers

Tyron Woodley will face Nathan Coy in a headlining welterweight bout , and Kerry Vera will meet Julianna Pena in a women’s 135-pound matchup at Strikeforce Challengers 8 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore., the promotion confirmed to Sherdog.com on Friday.

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

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 hold 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.