Like Father, Like Son?

Posted on | June 22, 2011 | No Comments

By: Holli Yargo

Ryan Couture (R) is picking up where his father Randy left off in the sport of MMA.

After graduating from Western Washington University with a degree in Math, Ryan Couture began a less than glamorous career as an Operations Manager for the now defunct Washington Mutual Bank. But, in 2006, the son of UFC Hall-of-Famer Randy Couture, decided to practice Jiu Jitsu to stay in shape. That led to the more aggressive workout of Muay Thai. Before long, it was pretty clear to all the coaches at Xtreme Couture that the then 24-year-old should be training in earnest.

By 2009, Couture was competing in amateur bouts to make his bones before deciding to go pro. He ended his amateur status with an impressive 5-1-1 record. The Tuff-N-Uff promotion hosted his final amateur bout against Sean Bollinger. Bollinger, the head trainer at Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet at Riverside gym, is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu; with the distinction of being Bravo’s second ever student awarded a black belt. The bout between Couture and Bollinger ended in a draw but was decidedly a balls-to-the-wall war of attrition that led Couture to the conclusion he was ready for the professional cards.

He made his pro debut with the Strikeforce organization in August of 2010, punctuating his coming out party with a triangle choke victory over Lucas Stark. Stark was a Rage in the Cage veteran with a 2 and 4 record against other newcomers before making his disappointing Strikeforce debut, bringing his loss count to 5.

In February, 2011 Couture faced Lee “Hoss” Higgins in another Strikeforce event. Like Couture, Higgins had also just gone pro and was on a 2-0 win streak in small promotions before meeting the former champion’s son. Higgins, who won both his previous professional fights with a rear naked choke, found himself the victim of his own signature submission. With only 19 seconds left in the third round, Couture sunk the hold and stole the win.

On Friday, June 24, 2011, Ryan Couture, now 29, will meet with Matt Ricehouse, a fairly huge lightweight, in Strikeforce: Challengers 16 co-headliner event. Ricehouse is a well-rounded competitor sporting a 4-0-0 record, with two of his wins coming on a Strikeforce undercard: a rear naked choke win over Gregory Wilson at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery on May 15, 2010 and a decision win over Tom Aaron in Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu on December 4, 2010.

Technically, Couture is the underdog in this bout in that Ricehouse can boast two knock-outs, a decision, and a submission win, making him a very formidable opponent. Couture, on the other hand, has the advantage of world class trainers and a special set of genetics that have the potential for setting him apart from his competition.

If not for the Couture name, it is doubtful this fight would ever have otherwise held the honor of a co-main event, but neither fighter is complaining. With no other big names on the card, save for the main event of Caros Fodor vs. James Terry, all eyes will be on the newcomers, mostly to see if Randy Couture’s son can bring the goods. All the pressure is on him, and Ricehouse promises to be his most difficult competition so far. Nevertheless, if Ryan continues on the same path he started on in the sport, he’ll make a name for himself that has nothing to do with who his father is.

BONUS: RABBLE ROUSIN’ RICH BERGERON INTERVIEWS RYAN IN LAS VEGAS AT XTREME COUTURE