Randy Couture would make Frank Sinatra, and just about every other former fighter proud. The 47-year-old MMA legend wants to go out "his way" and not on terms set by anyone else. Tuesday during the UFC 129 prefight teleconference, he repeated his claim that he's done, following his fight versus Lyoto Machida.
"It's been an ongoing transition for me," Couture told the media. "I kind of want to go out on my own terms and decide when enough is enough. I think that time has come."
Couture said fighting a top contender like Machida at a mega-event in front of 55,000 fans in Toronto is a great way to end things. It'll also be his 30th pro fight in MMA.
"I think it's time to focus on the other things going on in my life after this fight," Couture said. "And I've pushed it pretty far. I don't think anybody is going to push it as far as I have the last 14 years."
Even if he wanted to change his mind, Couture's schedule sounds like it's booked through the fall of 2011. He begins filming a new movie "Hijacked" in late May and then it's back with Sylvester Stallone for the "Expendables II" in September.
Couture has no plans of filing some sort of official retirement papers, but indicated he won't be talked back into the cage after this one.
"I'm sure that they're probably gonna have ideas for other fights. They're gonna try and entice me into coming back and fighting again. And I anticipate all those decisions. I see myself hopefully being with Zuffa and getting involved with them in some other way, shape or form."
Couture said he's healthy now and doesn't want doctors telling him he can't fight any longer.
He sounds interested in becoming part of the UFC's broadcast team down the road. With the number of events UFC/Strikeforce is going to be putting on around the world, that's a great idea. Couture's transition to the booth may not be the best news for some of the current announcers employed by Zuffa and Showtime.
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