Ryan Couture’s brief time in the UFC was filled with controversy and marred by pre-existing bad blood between his family and his promoter.

Couture (9-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who fights Dakota Cochrane (18-7 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) on Friday’s Spike TV-televised Bellator 135 main card at Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla., came to the UFC as a 6-1 lightweight when Strikeforce was shuttered. The son of UFC legend Randy Couture, Ryan also had to deal with much of the baggage that came with the years-long feud between his father and UFC President Dana White.

White made it clear that Couture’s father would not be allowed to corner him for any fights, and many felt Couture’s first UFC fight, against then 14-6 Ross Pearson, was an unfairly difficult matchup for someone so young into his professional career.

“I thought that was a fair matchup coming off a win over someone as established as K.J. Noons, who is also a dangerous striker,” Couture told MMAjunkie. “I thought that matchmaking-wise it made sense and it was a good opportunity to be the co-main event on a show like that. I just didn’t come out and perform and make the most of it. I didn’t feel like I got a raw deal on that matchup.

“I could have dealt without all the extra nonsense that surrounded the lead-up to that fight, but that really didn’t have an effect on training or on the fight itself.”

After two losses in the octagon, the UFC and Couture parted ways.

Couture rattled off three straight wins in 2014, including a first round rear-naked-choke victory over Tom Bagnasco in his promotional debut at Bellator 124.

With the Bellator deal, Couture has been reunited with Scott Coker, the former CEO of Strikeforce and current Bellator president.

Coker was the promotional guiding hand in Couture’s early career, and the chance to work together again is something that the fighter values.

“It’s great,” Couture said. “We always got along really well and had a great relationship in the early days of my pro career. So I was thrilled to get the opportunity to come to Bellator and work with him again. They’ve always taken really good care of me, and so far with Bellator, that’s true. I really have nothing I could possibly complain about. I’m very happy with the situation and looking forward to seeing how things go over the next few fights.”

On Friday Couture hasthe opportunity to take the next step in his career when he faces Cochrane. Neither fighter is known for his striking, which gives Couture the impression he knows how things will play out when the cage door closes.

“I think we’re both grappling-oriented fighters,” Couture said. “It’s going to come down to who can impose their gameplan. Dakota comes out aggressive and starts real strong, so I may have to weather a bit of an early storm. But I think I’m going to be able to outlast him and wear him down, get on top and find a submission.

“I feel like everything is coming together at the right time. My weight is right on track. Sparring rounds have been going really well. I’m getting some good work in and just looking forward to having some fun.”

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