UFC is an acquired taste: a strange concoction of ultra-violence and homoeroticism. How else can you describe a scenario in which one man has his head buried in another man’s crotch, while simultaneously trying to break his arm? Beneath the bruises and cuts, chokeholds and kicks, there are intricate moves and countermoves. Every button affects every move. Wildly bash buttons and your character’s stamina runs out. Act precisely and methodically – block, parry, and dodge – and you come a step closer to KO.
Despite all the chest-beating machismo, Career Mode is as stimulating as the Antiques Roadshow. Choose a real life fighter and progress from the Ultimate Fighter TV show to the UFC. It’s enough to give you a pang of nostalgia for the ridiculous storylines of WWF. At least the sport’s female fighters are treated with respect. This game may be more for fighters than lovers, but it’s impossible to deny the wicked skills of mixed martial arts.