6 Best Second Generation Fighters In MMA Right Now

The oldest fighter on this list, Ryan Couture made his MMA debut in 2010, just weeks before his father, MMA legend Randy Couture, would submit pro boxer James Toney at UFC 118.

Despite his father's unprecedented accomplishments, Ryan was determined to make his own name in MMA and rebounded from an early defeat by Matt Ricehouse to establish himself as a contender in the Strikeforce lightweight division, beating Joe Duarte and KJ Noons before the organisation was purchased by the UFC.

Unfortunately, by the time Ryan made his way into the big show his father had signed a deal with rival organisation Bellator leading to a total breakdown in relations between the senior Couture and the UFC. White even stated that he had told Ryan that he was willing to let him follow his father in departing the organisation:

"I need you to understand this: Me and your dad are not good, me and your dad are never going to be good, ever, ever again, as long as I walk this f*cking planet. ... I want to be honest, I want to be upfront, if you want me to release you from your contract so that you can go do a deal with Bellator and have your dad, maybe work with him and go up and do whatever, I would do that."

Ryan elected to stay in the UFC and was subsequently pitted against more experienced opposition, losing two in a row before being released from the organisation. Ryan did end up joining his father in Bellator, amassing a 4-3 record in the promotion, including a pair of victories over the father of a fellow list member Aviv Gozali.