Rep: Randy Couture retirement announcement was premature

[Rappy Veteran]

UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture dropped a bomb online Tuesday evening when he suddenly announced that he is calling it quits on an MMA career that's spanned 13 years, 29 fights and two titles.

"I think I'm at the end of it y'all," Couture wrote on his official Twitter account, which has just under 70,000 followers. "It's time."

"It's time to move on and focus on all the other amazing things going on in my life," he added on his Facebook account.

But that statement is premature, according to his lawyer and representative, Sam Spira.

"There's been no official announcement," Spira told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on Tuesday evening. "There's been no decision. Any announcements or decisions would be likely coordinated with the UFC."

Although the two statements appear to be at cross purposes, Spira said Couture is in the same frame of mind he's been since a triumphant performance in August against boxing champion James Toney at UFC 118. Namely, that Couture's career in entertainment is heating up as his fighting career is tapering down.

At 47 years old, Couture had been coming off of one of the busiest stretches of his 13-year career with four fights in a 12-month period. With a run of three straight wins, Couture has shown he still has what it takes to perform in the octagon.

But Couture has also hinted he may be prepared to walk away from the sport. However, after first retiring in 2005, Couture said he doesn't want to rush to a decision this time around.

"(My fighting career is on hold) for now," Couture said. "You never know what [uFC officials] are going to throw at me. We'll see, and if it's interesting, I might not be able to walk away from it."

The fighter currently is in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he's filming a role in the upcoming movie "The Setup" opposite Bruce Willis, rapper 50 Cent, Ryan Phillipe and James Remar.

In March Couture is expected to begin work on "The Expendables 2," in which he'll reprise his role as Toll Road. Couture earned the role as part of the star-studded cast of "The Expendables" that also included Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham, Steve Austin, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, as well as cameo appearances by Willis and Arnold Scwarzenegger.

"The Expendables" opened in the U.S. in August and was the highest-grossing film in its debut weekend.

Additionally, Couture is expected to appear in a national TV commercial for Ford. So as of now, there are plenty of things to keep his mind off fighting.

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[Growled Member]

He's still the best but his age is going to be a factor in the coming years. It's time to move on while he is still on top.

[Rappy Veteran]

He's still the best but his age is going to be a factor in the coming years. It's time to move on while he is still on top.

yeah I would like to see just one more fight though but who is the question really

[Brian Veteran]

It's that time though, expect to see quite a few more of our favourites leaving the biz in the next little while. It's sort of like the transition in the NHL at the moment.

[Kriz]

yeah I would like to see just one more fight though but who is the question really

Randy Vs Chuck 4? :rofl:

It will be a sad day if he does go ahead, i can remember watching Randy's first ever fight 13 years ago and thinking woah, mid 30s making his UFC debut and winning the Heavyweight tournament? This guy is going to be good, for the few years he has left anyway. No way would i have imagined he's still fighting at 47 years old.. What a guy, what a legend!

[Kriz]

While Chuck Liddell officially announced his retirement this past week, it looks like fellow UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture (19-10 MMA, 16-7 UFC) may be giving it at least one more go.

MMAjunkie.com has confirmed that Couture has verbally agreed to face another former champion, Lyoto Machida (16-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), at UFC 129.

Multiple sources close to the promotion have indicated the bout is far from a done deal, but negotiations are ongoing for the matchup, which was first reported by MMA Fighting.com.

While the UFC has yet to officially announce any bouts for UFC 129, the event is slated for April 30 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

In October, Couture cast some doubt as to his fighting future by admitting he was focused more on potential acting roles than future in-cage matchups. However, "The Natural" never claimed he was completely finished with fighting.

In December, Couture's lawyer and representative, Sam Spira, said the retirement talk was pre-mature.

In March, Couture is expected to begin filming for "The Expendables 2," in which he'll reprise his role as Toll Road. Potential scheduling conflicts are said to be among the few hurdles needed to clear before the bout can become more of a reality.

Couture is currently enjoying a three-fight win streak that includes a heavyweight win over James Toney at this past August's UFC 118 event, as well as two light heavyweight wins over Mark Coleman and Brandon Vera.

Meanwhile, after opening his career with 16-straight wins, Machida has now lost back-to-back fights. "The Dragon" surrendered the UFC light heavyweight title to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua this past May and then dropped a heartbreaking split decision to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in November.

Brilliant news :D :D Dropping back down the LHW too!

[Rappy Veteran]

lol posted this a few posts down ;)