(George Galanis is a freelance journalist, MMA fan and BPL contributor.) 

We knew this day would come eventually, but Randy Couture has gone on so far past the normal limits of athletic performance that maybe we started to believe it would never happen. Just two months shy of his 48th birthday, Couture says he sees the end of his mixed martial arts career racing towards him. He will fight Lyoto Machida at UFC 129 on April 30 in front of 55,000 fans, and win, lose or draw, he will call it quits right afterward to focus on acting and other interests.

It's a decision he made once before. He retired in 2006 after losing to Chuck Liddell in the third fight of their trilogy. With the benefit of hindsight, Couture said that he knows that was simply a break necessary due to other events in his life. But this one, he says, will stick. 

Next weekend in Toronto will be the last time we will see the former double-divisional champion (heavyweight and light-heavyweight) and icon of the sport in his natural environment. 

Couture's decision to retire was first reported by ESPN, and elaborated on during a conference call with media relating to the April 30 event. 

"It's time to focus on the other things I've got going on in my life after this fight," explained Couture. "I've pushed it pretty far. I don't think anyone is going to push it as far as I have over the last fourteen years." 

As far as his reasoning, "The Natural" made it clear it was simply time to move on rather than have retirement forced on him, saying: "I feel healthy, I feel great. I can still compete at this level. I just don't want to stretch it. I don't want to wait until I have that injury and have doctors telling me I can't fight anymore. I want to enjoy the rest of my life right now. I don't want to wait too long." 

"Win, lose, or draw doesn't factor into the equation," he concluded after being asked whether or not a victory over Machida could change his mind. 

Future endeavours for Couture include roles in two upcoming films, including the sequel to The Expendables, which starts filming in August, as well as a possible return to the broadcast booth alongside UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg. 

Pending the outcome of his fight with Machida, Couture will exit MMA with memorable wins including those over Tim Sylvia, Vitor Belfort, Tito Ortiz, and Chuck Liddell in addition to many others.