Friday, January 8, 2009

By Isaac Kuhlman

  "His stand up is unorthodox. He's a left-hander. So, that poses a couple of different issues, but on a technical level he's not there. That's probably the weakest part of his game," were the words that Ryan Couture had to say about his opponent after his first round TKO victory over Joe Tussing of Las Vegas. The fight was the main event on Tuff-N-Uff's Fight Night III Amateur Fighting Championship presented by MTX Audio from the Riviera Events Center. Couture made the most of his pre-fight observations, and made it a short night for Tussing.

  Couture credited his intense preparation for the fight with pro fighters at Xtreme Couture as a big part of his success in the fight, but, really, it was Couture's attention to the details of Tussing's game that allowed Couture to take advantage of the mistakes in Tussing's game.

  "Even when he's on top in a dominant position, he's so eager to hurt you. He's such an aggressive guy that sometimes he overcommits to things. So, I thought even if he got me on my back, I'd get an arm. I thought I might get an armbar tonight," says Couture in detail about his strategy going in. Unfortunately for Tussing, it turned into a situation worse than an armbar.

  As the fight started, Tussing came out aggressive (just like Couture had anticipated) and the sheer intensity of Tussing just sort of pushed the fighters to a stumbling fall where Couture kept Tussing under control. Couture rolled to Tussing's back quickly, and, within a few moments, he had Tussing in a rear-naked choke. Tussing, in an attempt to escape the choke, stood up and fell straight back on top of Couture. For the more avid MMA constituency, this is known as a bad idea.

  Though Couture said "I did see a white flash real quick," he was able to keep the choke and actually tighten it to the point where Tussing faded out so quickly that he was unable to tap before the lights went out. The referee stepped in right at the point that Tussing looked to be out to stop the fight. It ended as furiously as it started, and Couture walked away with the TKO victory at 1:07 of round 1.

  Couture says he will look to get one more amateur fight before testing his skills in the pro ranks, but, when I asked what amateur he wanted to fight, he actually pointed to a former Tuff-N-Uff fighter that turned pro, Odis Ruiz. Ruiz just recently turned to the professional ranks in November, and knocked out an Xtreme Couture teammate of Ryan Couture's by a vicious spinning backfist.

  "He's another guy (Ruiz) that's unorthodox more than technical, but that's what makes him so dangerous. It's way harder to fight a guy that you don't know what he's going to throw like a spinning heelkick. He's a big, strong, athletic guy. He's someone who I would've really like to tested myself against. I have a feeling us both being local to Vegas we'll run into each other as pros at some point. Especially because he knocked out a teammate of mine in his pro debut. It was frustrating to watch...(by backfist) It was the most picture perfect one I've ever seen," says Couture.

  The one "gripping" question I had to ask the younger Couture was about his choice in after-fight parties. Previously, it was known that the Xtreme Couture crew spent some time at Stoney's (country bar), and this after-fight party was at the new Cadillac Ranch in Town Square. With all this "country-themed" entertainment, I had to ask what the fascination was.

  "You know, I've always just really enjoyed Stoney's. It's a fun, laid-back atmosphere. I like to drink beer. I don't like to get bottle service, and I don't really care for nightclubs. I like to be able to talk to my friends that come out and see me afterwards...This time for Cadillac Ranch, I had a friend call me and say, 'How do you feel about Cadillac Ranch?' I like Town Square...and I've always enjoyed that mechanical bull too."

For event results for this Tuff-N-Uff fight card click here.

For a recap of the night's most exciting fights click here.