As is in any sports game, it's all about the branding. "NFL" is obviously going to sell more than "CFL", for example.

In MMA, the big dog is the UFC. Their videogame is selling like hotcakes. But in this sport, there are many players in the game that have potential to dominate the market in the future, unlike in other sports where there's always a clear leader and there are no actual competitors (like NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, etc).

Now EA seems like it's set to grab pretty much every other fighter that is not signed with the UFC. Some points to consider:

1.) EA has already signed arguably the best fighter in the world in Fedor Emelianenko. Basically, all the hardcore American fans are gonna buy this game because of this, which is a substantial number. Fedor is also a superstar in Europe and Japan, where the game could be huge.

2.) EA also has already signed the most popular fighter in the world in Randy Couture due to a contractual dispute with the UFC from last year. If he's placed on the cover, this could be huge in America. After all, Randy is Captain America.

3.) The UFC game has 0 big name asian fighters (specifically Japanese fighters). MMA, though, is absolutely huge in Japan, with some huge stars potentially available to sign with EA.

4.) "MMA" is nowadays synonymous with "UFC". This could be a good thing for EA as well, especially if Randy is on the cover, because everyone who watches the UFC knows Randy. Casuals might come to expect UFC fighters in this game and buy impulsively.

5.) The problem is there's not much else aside from these potential markets. Dana White has already stated that no UFC fighters will be allowed to sign with EA, and UFC fighters have twice the exposure of those outside of it. The competition from outside the UFC has plenty of talented fighters, but none are quite as marketable.

I personally think that this game can match the UFC game's success, though of course it won't outsell it by any means. It will probably make 70-80% of Undisputed's sales.

I think attaching the UFC brand means a good deal to sales.

If they snag Kiyoshi Tamura, I'll buy it!

EA will give it a better push then UFC game had. Ea can learn from their mistakes and create a much better game.

Ea should sign official sponsor ship with Dream or Sengoku or better yet both, and sale good in Japan.

It will be a moderate success at worst.

Yes, I'm sure that it will sell great in Japan. Just like all the western-made baseball games sell so great in Japan.

Now I'm not so sure that putting a bunch of popular fighters on the cover will allow them to take on THQ's multi-million selling franchise. We'll see.

agreed.

WAIT Where's Kimbo Slice? Thats my Fav fighter NO ONE CAN BEAT KIMBO SLICE

EA just wants a piece of the action they refused when UFC approached them years ago now that MMA is a mainstream marketable sport, demonstrated by the 150m+ PPV sales of UFC 100 and the multi million status of Undisputed.

Besides Randy and Fedor, I'm curious to see who else EAS lands.

Personally, it will have to be a far better game than Undisputed to get me to spend my money on this given EA's initial flat out rejection (because "MMA is not a sport") of the UFC's proposition. That was the reason for White's ridiculous "sign with EA Sports and you will not be fighting in the UFC" stance. Can't say I blame him though.

there's still a whole bunch of fighters left to sign.

babula and mousasi are already on board.

i expect arlovski, frank shamrock, sylvia, shields, overeem, barnett, lawler, ninja, rogerio noguiera, aleksander e (fedor's brother), monson, werdum, and a lot of others to be on board in the future. these guys still have quite a name and will put great variety to EA's game.

among the asian fighters, it's a shame they can't have akiyama in the game anymore, but if they can get aoki and gomi they'll be a good success in Japan.

Interesting thread (you again bugrimmar).

1. First, who made UFC game? Was it Take Two or THQ? I feel it's THQ.

2. And how much it sold? I guess a huge success?

3. Third Second, bugrimmar and others. Does anyone on VGC play this UFC game and do you like it?

4. what does it compare to? Like, is it more like the EA boxing games, Wrestling, or does it feel like a fighting game like Tekken, Def Jam etc.