Ryan Couture vs. Lee Higgins At Strikeforce Challengers

[keithlewis]

One of the most promising prospects in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Ryan Couture, will seek his second consecutive victory when he faces fellow unbeaten Lee Higgins (2-0) of Houston in a featured lightweight (155 pounds) bout of a STRIKEFORCE Challengers fight card presented by Rockstar Energy Drink at Cedar Park Center in the Austin, Texas. suburb of Cedar Park on Friday, Feb. 18, live on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

In the main event, unbeaten rising star Lyle "Fancy Pants" Beerbohm (15-0) of Spokane, Wash., takes on dangerous veteran Pat "Bam Bam'' Healy (25-17) of St. Louis. The winner in the lightweight scrap remains in contention for a possible shot at the STRIKEFORCE title.

The first non-televised, undercard fight will begin at 7:30 p.m. CT. Doors will open at 6:45 p.m.

Ryan, the son of MMA legend, Randy Couture, will be making his second pro start and second for STRIKEFORCE on SHOWTIME. He won his debut last Aug. 13 with a slick, 75-second, first-round submission (triangle choke) over Lucas Stark on STRIKEFORCE Challengers.

The 5-foot-10, 28-year-old Couture was scheduled to fight last Nov. 19 but withdrew due to a staph infection.

"I was down for a few weeks but now I'm ready to fight and looking forward to fighting in Texas on Feb. 18,'' said Couture, a member of Las Vegas, Nev.- based Xtreme Couture. "I'm excited and working hard. I expect a tough fight.''

Ryan, who was born in Seattle, wrestled in junior high and high school before taking up Jiu-Jitsu. He graduated in 2004 with a mathematics degree from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., and worked at a local bank before deciding to go into MMA. He began serious training in MMA in 2008.

"I became a fan when my dad began competing but didn't get involved as a competitor until years later,'' said Ryan, who went 5-1 in the amateurs. "I still have a ton to learn and there'll always be pressure because I'm a 'Couture,'' but I'm pretty used to that now.'''

Higgins, who fights out of Houston and is a product of Tony Aponte's "Urban Jungle,'' won both his fights by rear-naked choke in the first round within a three-week span late last year.

The 5-foot-11, 30-year-old submitted Gilbert Jimenez at 2:36 in his most recent outing on Dec. 4. He forced Kenny Burke to tap at 1:25 the previous Nov. 12. Both fights were in Houston.

"This is a great opportunity and an honor for me to fight the son of a legend,'' Higgins said. "I couldn't believe it when they offered me the fight. To get a chance to show my skills and make a name for myself on television is very exciting and absolutely a huge deal.''

A blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu, Higgins grew up in Massachusetts but has been training in Houston the past two years.

"Lee's biggest strength is his Jiu-Jitsu but he is also emotionally very strong and works extremely hard,'' Aponte said. "He'll be ready for Feb. 18.''