It feels much tougher to break than UFC 2 regardless of the opposition, causing some frustrating ends to fights that never get any easier to accept. If they match your direction, they stop you breaking the submission, and too often, they reacted so quickly that I could never get out, causing my first loss at the hands of Cain Velasquez. A mini game pops up where you must use the right stick to move up, down, left, or right, but your opponent can also move their stick in your direction. Whenever I found myself stuck in an arm bar or a Kimura lock, I just couldnвЂ™t get out. This is less of a criticism and more about learning curves, because you do learn вЂ“ a lot. Using the right trigger and moving in the direction of your opponent can block their movement, and you can hold it down to grab onto them and restrict their next move. When youвЂ™re on the mat, it can be tough to get in a decent position as the AI is very strong, whether youвЂ™re trying to wriggle out of a sprawl or a top mount. So many times youвЂ™ll struggle to stay on your feet, but when itвЂ™s you taking them down, the sound of them slamming into the mat does wonders for your confidence. Grappling always feels difficult to block or break, as timing needs to be so precise. Blocking has been altered so that itвЂ™s more accessible, but you can still be caught off guard, as well as stronger fighters being able to break your defence. When youвЂ™ve perfected the distance and opportunity to strike, thereвЂ™s nothing quite like a knockdown, or even a stun where your opponent wobbles, then Joe Rogan shares his excitement over the commentary. I would try and start off figuring my opponent out with some light combos, then when their guard was lowered, IвЂ™d go for massive kicks to the head. Striking is so satisfying, making flurries of jabs and hooks, or uppercuts and signature moves affect your opponent in lots of different ways. No fight I had felt the same, even when I was fighting the same opponent for a second time. Everything from the footwork to the speed of which they move looks incredible, every little detail in place to make the fight feel fluid. EA has implemented Real Player Motion that has revolutionised MMA in video games, giving every fighter their own unique style.ДЇighters known for their ground work will find every opportunity to take you to the mat, whilst strikers will land massive blows that knock you off guard and force you into the side of the cage with little chance of making it out alive. It certainly helps you if you know what fighters are like in real life as youвЂ™ll have an idea of what their strengths and weaknesses are, but you can never be fully ready until youвЂ™re in the Octagon with them, staring them right in the eyes. There are so many different styles in the UFC, and depending on who you fight, your strategy needs to change. Whilst the career mode is still not quite perfect, thereвЂ™s still a great sense of achievement and disappointment real UFC fighters must feel as they progress through the ranks.ДЇighting in UFC 3 has certainly set a benchmark, with every fight a new challenge. The fighting is impeccable, as every match is fluid, realistic, and exciting. The announcement to make a new UFC game took many by surprise, especially as the gap between the first and second was so large, but, as they say, strike while the ironвЂ™s hot, EA know it has a strong franchise and is ready to build upon it.

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