PLYMOUTH, MI-After being released from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and winning back-to-back fights in the Battlegrounds promotion, Ryan Couture was once again back on a big stage, this time at Bellator 124 on Spike TV (full results here).
The son of mixed martial arts (MMA) legend, Randy Couture, made quick work of local fighter, Tom Bagnasco, in the opening round by way of rear-naked choke. Bagnasco had replaced original opponent John Shulz, who withdrew from the fight prior to the weigh ins due to medical issues.
Couture was able to get the fight to the ground rather quickly from the clinch and lock up the fight-ending submission not long after. Now 9-3 overall, he was all smiles afterward with his first Bellator win under his belt.
"It was great to be kind of back on the horse and get that first win over with," Couture told MMAmania.com after the fight. "It lets some of the pressure off, coming out and starting off with a win. Now I'll get settled in and the challenges are just going to get tougher from here."
The Xtreme Couture fighter admitted he didn't know too much about Bagnasco -- who was 3-1 going into the fight -- with less than a day to prepare for him, so he just planned on playing to his own strengths.
"I got to watch one of his fights that we were able to find on YouTube and felt like I was still a level above him, especially on short notice," said Couture. "I figured it was going to be flying into the unknown for both of us. That's why I came out and tried to get into the clinch quick and work where I am most comfortable and where I feel confident against anybody that is out there."
Once he got Bagnasco to the ground, Couture was able to get one hook in at first before remaining patient and securing a body triangle. From there, he took complete control of his opponent until forcing the tap at the 3:01 mark of the first round.
"That's a position that I work a ton in practice and I'm really, really comfortable there," said Couture. "I feel like I can control anybody from there and I will eventually get that second hook or body triangle and be able to go to work from there. I just tried to bide my time and waited for him to open up a little bit and I was able to get it in there and get the job done."
That was the third-straight win and third consecutive rear-naked choke submission from Couture, who has now fought in the UFC, Strikeforce, and Bellator. "It's been working for me these last couple of fights so I'm going to have to learn some new tricks," he said.
It was a big fight and an important win for the 32-year-old fighter and he was elated to have his father back in his corner. "The Natural" was not allowed to corner him in his two UFC fights because UFC President Dana White wouldn't permit it after Randy signed with Viacom to be a coach on Fight Master and a host of Gym Rescue.
"It's always great to have dad there," said Couture. "He is such a calming presence and makes me feel right at ease. That's about as comfortable as I've ever felt in the cage just there. I can't say enough how good it is to have him there."
Couture was then asked if he had ribbed his father at all for becoming a contestant on Season 19 of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" (video).
"I can't do it, so I'm in no position to make fun," he laughed.
Now a four-year veteran of the sport, Couture says he is "not in a huge rush" to jump into deep waters of the division with the likes of Michael Chandler and current interim lightweight champion, Will Brooks. He knows he has a steep climb in front of him to get to the top, but he will embrace the grind and continue to work on his game and make improvements.
"I've trained with him and I know just how good he is," Couture said of Chandler. "I have my work cut out for me to get to that level, but I'm here to put in that time and put in that effort and just keep improving and eventually I will get there. I just want to stay busy and keep making these improvements and keep coming out and putting on a show on Spike TV for the fans."