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'Worried' Machida will 'run away' - Couture

Randy Couture believes Lyoto Machida will 'run away' from him when the pair meet at UFC 129 © Getty Images

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Randy Couture believes Lyoto Machida is "worried" ahead of their upcoming fight, because he has been doing far more talking than he usually does.

Couture and Machida square off at UFC 129 in a light-heavyweight battle that is widely expected to go the way of the Brazilian. Couture is 47, and his last two victories have come against a tired Mark Coleman and an out-of-his-depth James Toney.

However, Machida is undoubtedly under a great deal of pressure, knowing defeat takes his recent UFC record to 0-3. The Karateka has uncharacteristically shed his views on Jon Jones and Couture in recent weeks, hinting the judges will be on Captain America's side in Toronto, and Couture is convinced there is a psychological weakness to penetrate.

"It all boils down to what happens in the cage," he told Sports Illustrated. "I've seen Lyoto's comments - 'Oh, now I'm going to have to beat the judges, too'. That tells me he's concerned about the fight a little bit.

"I don't think there's any secret about what I'm going to do, and I don't think he's going to change his fighting style wholesale, either, in 10 weeks. It's not going to happen. I think both of us know what to expect.

"He's going to run away and try to draw me into that range where he likes to be, and I'm going to try to pressure him, and cut him off, and get my hands on him.

"I think it's in his head. He's worried about the fight and how it's going to be for him. Obviously, coming off two losses, his confidence isn't as high as it probably was a year ago."

Couture has promised not to make any announcements about retirement in the Octagon post-fight, but he did give another huge indication that this will be his last bout, insisting not even a clash with Mauricio Shogun Rua - whom he recently called out - would tempt him.

"I think this is probably my last fight," he said. "I don't think I'm going to fight any more after this. I'm ready to move on. The movie thing is picking up, all the other businesses are firing. I've pushed this as far as anybody's going to push it for a long time.

"I was happy to get this fight. The camp has been fantastic, but I want to go out on my terms. I don't want to wait until I have an injury, or until I do something in training that's going to force me to take time off. I'm looking forward to this fight, and after that, I think it's time to look at all the other stuff I've got going on.

"I'm saying because that's the way it is. I'm not going to make an official statement in the ring, like I did before. I don't think anybody would buy that. I know the UFC too well. I know those guys are going to throw fights at me and try and coerce me into stepping back out there. But right now, I think this is the time for me to move on and enjoy my life for a little bit."

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