(written by Bryan Levick)

When something has been part of your life for so long and has given you so many fantastic memories you never truly can get it out of your system. Couture has remained busy since his last fight against Lyoto Machida at UFC 129 in April of 2011. He has caught the acting bug starring in such movies as The Expendables and its sequel. He is still coaching a large stable of fighters at his Las Vegas based gym Xtreme Couture and he will once again handle broadcasting duties for the UFC on FOX 3 in May.

Couture may be closing in on 49-years-old, but he has the energy of a man half his age. His ambition and drive to succeed is just as strong as it has ever been. The demand on his time will always be great because of what he brings to the table. You know when you are getting Randy Couture involved with a project you are going to get the very best from a man who will always give his maximum effort. Most people are content with relaxing and spending time with their family when they retire, but Couture is not most people.

“I just finished filming Expendables 2,” said Couture in an interview with MMAFrenzy. “Before that I filmed a movie called Hijacked in which I had the lead in, they will both be out this summer. I’m heading to LA for a meeting about a movie and I will be commentating for the UFC on Fox once again in New Jersey. We just had our third annual Xtreme Couture GI Foundation poker tournament with all the proceeds going to wounded soldier and their families. We have our third annual Ride Four Our Troops on May 19. It’s always fun to give back and help those families who need help. Those guys have sacrificed their limbs and it’s something I have enjoyed building from the ground up.”

Couture seems to be content knowing that his fighting career is over and doesn’t plan on making any more comebacks like the one he made back in 2007 when he returned after a year on the shelf to defeat then UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia to become the division champion for the third time. The itch can be scratched with some long hours in the gym training alongside some of the toughest fighters in the world.

“Whenever I’m in Vegas I’m at the gym every single day,” admitted the UFC Hall of Famer. “I don’t really get the itch to fight as I feel like I made the right decision. In today’s society it’s very rare when an athlete gets to go out on his own terms. I felt like I had the privilege to do that and I didn’t have anyone telling me I couldn’t fight anymore. I haven’t really looked back or second guessed myself. I’ve been getting more acting jobs and keeping real busy. I’m really excited about commentating and I’ve developed a passion for acting. Things are going really well for me.”

Another thing keeping Couture busy these days pertains to Ryan Couture, a Strikeforce lightweight carrying on the Couture legacy inside the cage.

“My son Ryan just had the biggest fight of his career against Connor Heun when Strikeforce went to Columbus. It was a big step-up for him and Connor is a wily veteran,” said the proud father of his boy. “That was the first camp where I was actively involved with helping Ryan prepare for his bouts. Before that whether it was wrestling or fighting I took a step back and stay out of his way. I wanted him to allow him to develop on his own terms; it’s already a burden carrying the same last name in both of those sports. The expectations because of the last name have put a target on his back right from the start. He came to me and asked for my help and I was certainly happy to get involved and help him formulate a gameplan. I think he responded very well and it was fun to see him have a great performance.”

While his son may be the future of MMA, the current talk of the MMA world has been centered on Testosterone Replacement Therapy and whether or not it should be allowed in the sport. Recently, UFC heavyweight title contender Alistair Overeem tested way above the limit and was pulled out of a bout with divisional champion Junior Dos Santos in May, then suspended for nine months, as a result. With Couture being so entrenched in the sport his opinion is always taken seriously and he certainly has one on the increasing presence of TRT.

“There is such fine line with all of the anti-aging stuff that’s out there now. TRT is generally something a guy does in their 40’s and 50’s when their natural production of testosterone drops off. There are other natural ways to boost your own body’s production without replacing it and it’s safer as well, but it still should be under the care of a physician,” offered Couture on the topic. “It’s a very fine and a very personal thing and there is no easy answer. An athlete is using his body to earn a living and entertain the fans, they want to get the most out of themselves, but sometimes they go too far with it.”

As a man who competed at a high level in his 40s without the aid of steroids or testosterone injections, it seems Couture’s nickname – “The Natural” – has never been more fitting.