Dana White doesn’t want to ever see his former employee Randy Couture at his event again. (UFC publicity photo)
Randy Couture’s departure from the UFC wasn’t the smoothest for the Hall of Famer.
Besides the haranguing he got from Dana White after announcing that he will be coaching rival promotion Bellator’s new reality show, the former heavyweight champion is forbidden from cornering his son, Ryan Couture, who was just picked up by the Ultimate Fighting Championship after Strikeforce closed its doors.
Dana White said his problem with Randy will not affect his son’s contract with the UFC, although there will be some restrictions.
“I told Ryan that he has a contract with the UFC but that his father can’t be in his corner. He can’t even buy a ticket to the event,” White said. “I know Randy’s his dad, so if he wants to cancel the contract and sign with Bellator, maybe he’ll do better with his father over there. But I understand that all kids dream of fighting in the UFC. If he say’s he doesn’t, he’s either lying or nuts.”
Responding at a Bellator press conference yesterday at Viacom headquarters, the former UFC star turned Hollywood actor said his son is his own man and that whether he will or will not be in his son’s corner is the athletic commission’s decision to make.
“Ryan’s a man already. He created his own style. All he has of mine is my last name. As for being in his corner, that’s the athletic commission’s problem, and we’ll cross that bridge when the time comes,” said a defiant Randy Couture.
Bellator’s reality show, “Fight Master,” will premier this summer. Couture will coach on the show against teams headed by Frank Shamrock, Greg Jackson and Joe Warren.
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