Ryan Couture cut from UFC after back-to-back losses

The career of Ryan Couture in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was seemingly doomed from the start.

The son of UFC Hall of Fame member -- and former two-division champion -- Randy Couture, who switched sweaters to serve as coach on rival show "Fight Master" for Bellator, earned a (6-1) record in Strikeforce and looked to continue his success when Strikeforce was acquired by Zuffa in 2011.

But, things never panned out inside the Octagon.

After two straight losses, most recently against Al Iaquinta at UFC 164, Couture's time with the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion has come to a close, according to MMAJunkie.com. Couture's manager, Sam Spira, reportedly received a letter this past week with news that the Lightweight was released from his contract.

The 31-year-old Couture was thrown into an already brewing fire between his pops and UFC President Dana White, who banned "The Natural" from UFC events after he chose to sign a multi-platform deal with Bellator broadcast partner Spike TV.

White made it clear little Couture wouldn't catch the wrath from his father's choices, although he didn't allow the multi-time champion to act as a corner man for his son when he debuted in the Octagon at UFC on Fuel TV 9 against Ross Pearson, who had twice the professional experience and had already faced a plethora of high-level opponents.

In the end Couture ended up losing in the second-round via technical knockout and his father ultimately branded the banning as "over the line."

Spira did add that Couture will regroup and look to gain more experience on a smaller platform before deciding to make another push at a second contract with UFC.