It was just a matter of time before Ryan Couture, son of Randy Couture, followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the ranks of those athletes willing to put life and limb on the line inside a cage.  Ryan Couture has signed a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce and will make his MMA pro debut on August 13th at Strikeforce Challengers 10 in Phoenix.

The 27-year-old Couture, a member of the Las Vegas, Nev., based Xtreme Couture fight team, will face Lucas Stark of Chandler, Ariz.

Couture compiled an amateur record of 5-1-1 competing as a lightweight with all five wins coming by way of submission.  Being a member of Xtreme Couture, (helps when dad is the owner) he has had access to a who’s who of MMA royalty as training partners and coaches, which, coupled with a solid amateur career, has given him the background and confidence to take his fight career to the next level.

Couture spent his high school years in suburban Seattle.  With his father being a former wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University, Couture naturally developed into a talented high school wrestler.

Following high school, Couture enrolled in Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA where he graduated in 2004 with a mathematics degree. He worked at a local bank until he realized his desire to work in the family business punching opponents in the head.

Couture began his MMA training in 2006, working to mature into a well-rounded fighter, adding Muay Thai and submission game to his repertoire.  In January 2008, he moved to Las Vegas to train with his father.

In his final amateur bout on March 26, Couture fought to a draw against Sean Bollinger for the Tuff-N-UFF 155-pound title fight at The Orleans in Las Vegas.

In my capacity of Co-Host and Producer of Shambala Sports Radio on FiveKnuckles.com and Owner and Host of This Week in Combat Sports, I have to take the time and see if I can book guests and set up interviews for both entities. Today was one of those days. I bet you are wondering why I am telling you this?

I did an interview with light-heavyweight Justin McCorkle recently in regard to his experience of trying to get onto “The Ultimate Fighter.” His journey started several months ago with a tryout for Season 11 of the popular reality show.

However, with the overabundance of middleweight talent for Season 11, the light-heavyweights were told that they would be on the short list for the series’ twelfth season. The rumor running around the net, was that “Season 12″ would be a 2 division season featuring the lightweights and light-heavyweights.

Well, as I mentioned at the top of this piece, I have been trying to book guests for upcoming Shambala Sports Radio on FiveKnuckles.com shows and fighter interviews for This Week in Combat Sports. Just got off the phone a little while ago with a manager of a couple fighters that are booked on a local MMA event that will take place on April 24.

I know I am being a bit vague. But I don’t want to jeopardize anyone else’s chance of being on the TUF show.

Anyway, within the conversation with said manager, I mentioned the interview with McCorkle and his weight class. The manager responded by telling me unequivocally that light-heavyweights will not be part of “Season 12.”

Apparently, the producers of the show told him that there were just not enough light-heavyweight fighters. The reason the manager knew this information was that one of his lightweight fighters was on the short list for “Season 12″ with the lightweights now being the focus.

I have a feeling that most of the light-heavyweight fighters who have been waiting are going to be pretty upset when they find out. A lot of these guys have refrained from fighting to avoid injury and jeopardize their chance to compete on the show. This means if the fighter is a full time fighter, said fighter is not making any money.

Hopefully, we will get an official announcement out of the UFC very soon on the matter. I also have an email out to Justin McCorkle to see if what this manager told me is true or if the news has been relayed to him. I am sure there will be more on this story very soon… As I am writing this final paragraph, Justin McCorkle has informed me that he’s heard the news, and as you can guess, not happy. But who can blame him. Hopefully, McCorkle will be able to continue to ply his trade as a MMA fighter.

The signing of Gomi means that BJ Penn may have another dance partner if Gomi can make his mark in the UFC by taking out a couple of the UFC’s top fighters.  I think Gomi’s first fight should be against Clay Guida.  If he can get past Guida, maybe Sean Sherk should be next.  Now, this is where things should get interesting…Many believe that Frankie Edgar should be Penn’s next opponent.  I tend to agree.  Gray Maynard has a good shot to follow Edgar, providing Penn beats Edgar.  So, who would Gomi face to win the chance to face BJ Penn, providing Penn still have the title?  The winner between Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez.  No, that fight has not been booked, but the fans want to see it.  Florian wants that fight and I am pretty sure Sanchez wants that fight.  Do not be surprised if we see that bout sometime in April or May.

What do you think?  Guida, Sherk, Sanchez and/or Florian as a path toward the title for Gomi? Maybe bouts with Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard?