Las Vegas Weekly

February 18, 2009 · 10:46 AM

Photo Gallery: Randy Couture coaches son to second MMA victory at Orleans

By Robin Leach

Ryan Couture is declared the winner over Art Martinez.

Photo: Ray Kasprowicz/www.ultravista.com

There’s another famous name coming up the ranks of mixed martial arts. So far, 26-year-old Ryan Couture is 2-0 in his amateur career and being watched over carefully by his famous father, UFC star Randy Couture. In fact, stepmother Kim Couture also is part of the management and training family firm.

I sat ringside at The Orleans ballroom with Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden and motorcross champion Carey Hart for the latest Tuff-N-Uff Fighting Championships. This is where the path to stardom and the big league bucks begins for the future MMA stars.

Also there was UFC fighter Frank Mir and, separately, former Playboy model Latasha Marzolla, who will be fighting in six weeks at the next Tuff -N-Uff. The Orleans ballroom was full of laser and smoke theatrics to thrill a sold-out, 1,500-strong crowd. Tuff-N-Uff moves next to the Orleans Arena now that the fan base has grown.

Ryan beat Art Martinez in a second-round choke-out on the final match of a 15-fight card. Team Xtreme Couture fielded four fighters, three of whom won their bouts.

There was one women’s battle this time around. In the130-pound category, Sarah Weeks continued her onslaught with a first-round victory over Kandice Gibson. One of the most dramatic victories of the night was for local fighter Rich St. Claire, who in less than 20 seconds demolished opponent Eric Bosley with an amazing spin kick, which broke his jaw inches away from our seats! It took Eric 5 minutes to regain consciousness on the ring floor, and officials had to strap his jaw shut with a leather brace before he was transported to a hospital.

Proud pop Randy said of son Ryan: “He’s been doing some terrific things in training this whole camp. It’s always harder to watch someone you care about fight than fighting yourself, but he’s handling it really well.” Couture Jr. plans his next fight in Washington in March and then returns to Vegas for another bout this summer. “I’ll know when the time is right to turn pro -- and I will,” he said.

Tuff-N-Uff has its next event in the amateur series March 27 and the championship finals in April. If you want to watch highlights from these fights, check out Cox Channel 19 on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

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