UFC fighters looking forward to virutal selves

By Allison Duck

Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010 | 2:38 p.m.

In the world of mixed martial arts, the UFC has dominated the competition, and the UFC line of video games is similarly putting a chokehold on the MMA gaming market.

After the success of UFC 2009 Undisputed (an 84 average score on metacritic.com and the Best Individual Sports Game award at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards), UFC and THQ have teamed up again for UFC Undisputed 2010.

"THQ loved the idea, they were passionate about it," UFC President Dana White said of the first game. "Things couldn't have worked out better."

Recently, the two companies offered guests at Mix Lounge at Mandalay Bay a sneak peak at their newest joint venture, unveiling the cover for UFC Undisputed 2010, which features Brock Lesnar. The game is slated for a May 25 release.

"A lot of improvements went into the game," said Undisputed producer Neven Dravinski. "Last year, the fighters were archetypes: BJJ (Brazilian ju-jitsu), boxers, wrestlers. We've actually created fighters with their individual move sets and various fighting techniques.

"This year we've added karate, Sambo and Greco-Roman wrestling. We've also added some unique moves like individual submission styles. For example, BJ Penn's arm trap rear-naked choke. We tried to make it as realistic as humanly possible."

Another major change was using photorealistic techniques to create the avatars of the more than 100 fighters depicted in the game.

"THQ has done such a good job making this look real that it's almost like watching a real UFC fight," White said.

Even UFC's famed announcer Bruce Buffer approved of the final product.

"I thought they couldn't top it last time, but to show you how realistic they are, they actually put me in the suit with the tennis balls (a motion-capture suit) because they wanted to get every move I made in the Octagon down to a tee," Buffer said. "They got my 180 move where I turn around. If they're that realistic with me, you can imagine how realistic they are with the fighters."

The fighters who attended the preview party had their chances to weigh in on the new version. Efrain Escudero, winner of Season Eight of The Ultimate Fighter, said the first game ended up bringing him good luck.

"For the last game, they made me a very good boxer and then I started being a good boxer in the Octagon," Escudero said, "so maybe they'll improve my takedown defense this year."

The Ultimate Fighter Season Seven winner Amir Sadollah admitted he spends a lot of time with the original Undisputed title.

"It's most of my Friday nights," he said.

Heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga noted that the improved graphics this year might not always be for the best.

"I got lucky when they made my first avatar because I was really in shape. I hope that they don't change it for my new avatar," Gonzaga said as he patted his stomach.