Report: Randy Couture to Retire Following UFC 129 Fight with Lyoto Machida

After starring in countless Octagon classics, it appears UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture is finally prepared to call it a career. “The Natural,” who turns 48 this June, told ESPN late Monday night he intends to hang up his MMA gloves for good following his UFC 129 fight with Lyoto Machida – win, lose or draw.

“I believe this is my last fight,” Couture stated. “I know the UFC is probably going to have other ideas, especially with acquiring Strikeforce and all that. They’re probably going to try to draw me into another fight, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

“I want to stick to my guns and this is the last one.”

Couture launched his illustrious career at UFC 13 back in May of 1997. He owns an underrated 19-10 record, with 15 of his fights coming in championship affairs. In March 2007, Couture became the oldest Octagon champion when he dominated Tim Sylvia at UFC 68. He had initially retired 13 months prior to posting the lopsided unanimous decision victory.

“I will miss the competition immensely but I want to go out on my terms,” Couture said. “I want to go out when I think it’s time to go out and not because I lost this fight or lost that fight or because I had an injury that precludes me from training the way I want to train.

“I want to make the decision on my own.”

Couture’s career in Hollywood has blossomed over the last several years, so it’s understandable why he’d opt for the less physically demanding occupation at this stage of his life. He’s scheduled to resume his role as ‘Toll Road’ in “The Expendables 2.” Filming for the blockbuster movie starts this August.

Couture’s swan song will play at UFC 129 on April 30th inside the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada.

Yeah, right. Randy is as bad as Brett Favre. When he hasn't fought in about 3 or 4 years, I'll believe he's retired.

This guy is great though, and once again very sadening to see someone you have watched for years get too old to do what they love

Yea, I agree with you both, he's a great fighter and it's sad to see him go....IF HE ACTUALLY goes this time. He is getting to be the Brett Favre of MMA

Luckily the wrestlers, like Randy or Tito, don't take a beating on their way out. I hated seeing Chuck getting knocked out again and again.

Ox 51 said:

Luckily the wrestlers, like Randy or Tito, don't take a beating on their way out. I hated seeing Chuck getting knocked out again and again.

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Yea, I agree there

Ox 51 said:

Luckily the wrestlers, like Randy or Tito, don't take a beating on their way out. I hated seeing Chuck getting knocked out again and again.

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Yeah I hated seeing that too, the funny thing is Chuck is a great wrestler, he just never implimented it in his game while in the UFC, I forget when it was but sometime in his career they told him if he wrestled he was out, so he stayed with the striking and basically impressed himself so much that he kept it that way. Look at when ever ANY1 took him down, he pops up faster than you did in middle school when u saw a boob