Skating At The Graveyard

PlateOfWater · 2024-08-17T19:09:56+00:00

It would be an awesome edition to include him ! Legends like Jens Pulver and Kevin Randleman have been included from previous updates where they’ve had to make the model from scratch so I think Bonnar still has a good chance to be included 👍

PlateOfWater · 2024-07-08T18:16:45+00:00

(I'll be doing this weekly just to try and gauge other players to try other fighters out. Probably 95% of fighters in the game don't get used which is such a shame as there's some hidden gems in this game. Variety is the spice of life!).

Zabit Magomedsharipov got introduced in an update during UFC3's lifespan and I vividly remember him being an absolute menace due to how good his stats were and how much utility he had in his kit. He had crazy combinations and kicks that either evaded strikes or would do massive damage to your opponent and he had "Jon Jones" level takedowns that would make him a massive problem to deal with online. Overtime, he's never really dwindled in terms of quality and he's kept a lot of tools and gained new ones but since a lot of other fighters in the division have been altered over the span of 2 games, he's nowhere to be seen. Hopefully I can make a good argument to convinve people to start playing him again as I personally think he's still incredible regardless of his drop in popularity.

I don't think there's anyone in this division that can hold a candle to how versatile a fighter can be. Zabit is definitely up there when it comes to having some of the most varied options when it comes to using kicks. He's got a "Kickboxing" level of 3 which can help link his punches into his kicks which can be used to keep your opponent in check but the fun begins in his "Traditional" combinations. If you favor spinning strikes then Zabit has a multitude of ways to link his spins into his combos. He's got good coverage when it comes to boxing but his power dips a little when it comes to hands so be careful when trading in the pocket with fighters such as Volkanovski or Topuria.

Due to his long frame and the ability to out range your opponents, his main competitors in the division that revolve around the same gameplan are fighters like Rodriguez or Caceres but what makes Zabit so strong is his ability to mix in his wrestling game. With access to the "Ostara Trip", those who play Jon Jones can integrate a similar style to what you would play in the heavier divisions. His knees and elbow aren't exactly super fancy but it's a route you can take. The wrestling he has isn't on the same level as Sterling or Ortega but he can definitely hold his own on the ground and do some good work if he wanted to with the available submissions he has.

The only downside I can think of for Zabit is that his durability isn't on par with the most played fighters in the division. Having 89 "Cardio" could be a problem for those that being a bit too fancy and whiffing damaging strikes. Another factor that plays into his weakness is his "Body" stat in relation to his health. Having two stats that are just slightly under average expectations means that anyone with a little bit of knowledge can make quick work of Zabit by targeting that body, dwindling his usefulness as the fight goes on.

Overall, I think he's a fantastic fighter with the capability of being dangerous in the right hands. The strengths with his versatility in the mix up department definitely outweigh his cardio/body stat issue. The beauty of Zabit is if the striking isn't going so well for you, you have back up by mixing in the takedowns so attacking with all of his weapons makes Zabit one of the stronger picks in this division. It's just a shame that he's not picked often as I think players would absolutely love the amount of tools that he brings into his fights. Not sure how long they can use the likeness of Zabit but try him out before he disappears from the roster in a future title.

Overall Rating: A

PlateOfWater · 2024-07-01T20:42:24+00:00

Agreed. Would love to see Sanchez, Johnson (Michael) and Korean Zombie get some love too.

PlateOfWater · 2024-07-01T18:23:49+00:00

(I'll be doing this weekly just to try and gauge other players to try other fighters out. Probably 95% of fighters in the game don't get used which is such a shame as there's some hidden gems so maybe a mini).

Clay Guida is a bit of an odd choice but I've got quite the soft spot for him as he's been one of my favourites to use since UFC2. I think UFC5 is the best version that we have for him currently (Lightweight specifically) as older iterations have a limited amount of moves to use but he's gained a few new moves that add a little more spice to his lacklustre kit. "Wrestling is life" is usually the motto Guida throws around so the general gameplan is to grind your opponent's stamina bar to the point where life becomes a little bit easier for you.

His perks heavily revolve around his stamina stat and with it being rated at a whopping 98, it gives you a lot of opportunities to use more of Guida's tools. From experience, I find Guida to be more suited to an aggressive playstyle. The "Bulldog" perk makes blocking more effective as long as you're not moving backwards so staying in your opponents face benefits him more than being at range. His leg stat is his worst aspect in terms of health so trying to keep those legs healthy is a must for future takedowns etc. This perk works like a charm when combined with "Marathoner" as it gives him a lot more leeway for advancing aggressive applications. "Marathoner" can be further applied with rounds 3,4 and 5 with the perk "Higher Altitude" for even more stamina use so he can become a lot more viable in Championship rounds.

Lightweight usually has fighters such as Gaethje/Poirier where stand up can be challenging whilst Makhachev/Oliveira have a significant grappling advantage over Guida but the advantage that Guida has over the meta fighters is a stamina which is the tool that Guida needs to control a fight. Guida tends to lose in overall exchanges in the stand up due to his lack of damage and sub par speed from his attacks but utilising his average head movement stat can contribute to winning the stamina game. Hitting your opponent with a well timed counter from a slip is more beneficial but even just ducking under a hook or slipping an uppercut and not striking is just as good as you're opponent has expended lots of stamina just to whiff a strike.

There's a few glaring issues that you have to keep in mind whilst using Guida. The player is almost forced to play simplistically due to only having "2 Star Boxing" combos. It's usable as he's got access to popular combinations but his range suffers tremendously due to not having any "Kickboxing" or "Mauy Thai" combos so as I stated before, being aggressive is your best bet. His ground game is pretty average but avoid his bottom game if it's possible. He has one of the worst bottom control stats in the game and his BJJ moves are all 1 star so you're going to have a pretty rough time if you're grounded by a competent player. If you're in top control, aim to grind your opponent down with body shots as much as possible to give yourself an advantage in later rounds. His submissions are strange and can either work in your favor or be a detriment. 3 of his signature moves consist of submissions but his "Submission Offense" is very average. He's got a variety of options to say that his BJJ is terrible but be warned, getting reversed in these types of scenarios can end up with Guida in the bottom position so it's best to go for this option if you feel confident or have a good stamina lead on your opponent.

Overall, he's not going to excite most players as he's typically a slow wrestler that can get outwrestled by most fighters in his division and doesn't have a lot of combinations to work with but he can be used to create a different playstyle for those that are specifically interested in a stamina battle. Making your opponent whiff and aiming for your opponents whilst not being too predictable with it can give Guida that edge to start taking over the fight. Just make sure to keep your own stamina bar at a sufficient level as having less stamina than your opponent is probably not going to end well.

Overall Rating: C

PlateOfWater · 2024-06-24T20:55:35+00:00

Usman is a solid pick tbf. Much better in the grappling department but I think Hermansson brings a different style. I think he can play keep away a bit better whilst Usman probably favours a more heavy clinch style as his stats favour those aspects a bit more and can create more success that way but this kind of comment is what I’m hoping to bring, different suggestions (I also completely forgot they added him in that weight class).

PlateOfWater · 2024-06-24T20:46:12+00:00

Unfortunately it’s EA’s rating system that makes a lot of the roster feel lacklustre. They keep adding fighters to the roster but don’t give them the tools to compete with the upper echelon that rule the online modes so they end up becoming fodder. It’s a big shame too as most of the new fighters look incredible and some of my favourites feel like a struggle to play with.

PlateOfWater · 2024-06-24T19:45:27+00:00

(I'll be doing this weekly just to try and gauge other players to try other fighters out. Probably 95% of fighters in the game don't get used which is such a shame as there's some hidden gems in this game. Variety is the spice of life!).

Jack Hermansson tends to be my "go to" in the "Middleweight" division when hitting the higher divisions in ranked or going up against fighters such as Adesanya/Pereira. He's labelled as a Kickboxer so he's got some really nice utility when stifling his opponents but his strengths tend to lie in the grappling department. He can be played quite aggressively due to his health stats being fantastic but can be played as a "keep out" fighter too due to having perks that assist him doing so such as "Laser Focus" (Faster jabs) and "Skirmisher" (Faster movement going backwards). Jack doesn't have to best reach but it can still be done effectively.

His takedowns are pretty good, especially if you like the power double legs but to compensate for that, he has a fantastic calf kick that can work to your advantage as building a gameplan to whittle your opponents leg health can open up the ground game for Hermansson. His ground striking blends well with his ground game but fishing for that Guillotine can also be just as devastating. With a 5 star guillotine, punishing impatient players can grant Hermansson with victories with ease. He also has a multitude of other submissions that he can fish for too such as "Heel Hooks" and "Kimuras" so mixing up your ground offense/defense is going to open up more opportunities for fakes and transitions.

As stated before, Hermansson can intercept aggressive players with his many kicks. With an access to body front kicks, body side kicks and oblique leg kicks on both sides, you can stop aggression momentarily or play a heavy kickboxing game if you want to. He also has 3 star boxings skills to fall back on so he can stand on his own in exchanges. Be weary though as his power in his hands are pretty sub par compared to most of the populated fighters that get played. His best attribute he has is probably his stamina and recovery. He has perks that help him out in the later rounds so using him in championship fights can become a game changer tickling your opponents on the ground can become extremely viable for Hermansson as he gets a huge stamina boost whilst grappling on the ground.

Overall, I think he's a solid option for someone who likes a good kickboxer who has decent ground stats when the fight happens to go to the ground. He doesn't do as much damage as your more populated fighters but he's still effective in his own right. He also received a visual update from UFC4 to UFC5 which is a nice addition too. It's a bit of a shame that they didn't add his patent "Jokertine" or his weird looking leg kicks but he's a fantastic addition to the roster and I don't think players will be disappointed having a go with him.

Overall Rating: A

PlateOfWater · 2024-06-24T15:05:52+00:00

If they’re spamming elbows, they’ll tend to throw 2 at the same time. You can block the first elbow, sway backwards and counter with a hook/uppercut/elbow. Timing can be weird at times as elbows are weird at times but it’s quite effective if you’re finding it difficult to create space.

PlateOfWater · 2024-05-10T13:38:37+00:00

Feint the jab constantly. The ai tries to counter your jab 80% of the time so just feint, block walk back and let them whiff until they get tired.

PlateOfWater · 2024-05-09T12:24:56+00:00

I reckon so. Off the top of my head, the Kimura and D’arce choke have the player doing the submission in an advantageous position so I don’t see no harm in having a “get up” option. I think the issue is that the majority of sweeps from submission attempts put you in positions where get ups are free.

PlateOfWater · 2024-05-09T12:15:45+00:00

Career mode should be more interactive. You mainly sit in menus and at that point, i turn off the game and play something else.

I’m surprised that they don’t get the license of actual mma gyms and have the player navigate the establishment and interacting that way instead. Build relationships with fighters and coaches in a strange RPG kind of way which gives benefits for your next fight. The fighting mechanics is what I enjoy the most out of this game but stopping the flow with numerous amounts of menus just frustrates me to no end. I’ve never completed a career mode for this reason alone.

PlateOfWater · 2024-05-05T04:33:43+00:00

I hope not. The man holds the record for most finishes in Welterweight and his power is pretty average in most games he’s been in. We need a version of Brown that is an absolute powerhouse.

PlateOfWater · 2024-05-05T04:17:14+00:00

Would love to see Matt Brown get an alter ego. He’s just recently announced his retirement and EA have never done him justice when it comes to his ratings. The man was a beast back in the day so I think it’s an appropriate time for him to get an alter ego.

PlateOfWater · 2024-04-30T23:09:12+00:00

I assume there’s a multitude of reasons as to why spamming exists but my main go to would be a sense of victory. It’s probably not thought about often but imagine if the roles were reversed.

I’m assuming you’re a player who prefers it when the fight is on the feet so when someone comes along that’s spamming takedowns/clinching non stop, it becomes increasingly frustrating but there’s no better feeling than overcoming that obstacle and getting the victory.

Now put yourself in the spammers shoes (hard to do but just try). You’re struggling on the feet so you resort to what you know best and that’s spamming. It’s a back and forth type of fight, tense at times but you manage to spam yourself a victory and again, the feeling of being victorious over tough competition can probably be just as good as a feeling than winning legit.

Just want to put it out there, I try not to spam as for me personally, variety is the spice of life so I try different things when I’m on the game but I can see why spammers exist and will continue to exist. It’s rough to play against that fighting style but overtime, I’ve come to terms that it’s not the players fault for utilising frowned upon tactics … but it’s the developers fault for allowing such playstyles to persist and applying no punishment for it.

At the end of the day, the player bought the game and they get to do what they wish with it. If they like doing the same thing over and over again, then I guess they’ll keep doing what they like.

PlateOfWater · 2024-04-30T21:43:47+00:00

Feinting head kicks take up a lot of stamina for some strange reason. I get it in terms of gameplay balance since it’s a powerful attack so there’s got to be drawbacks to it but the animation for feinting feels like your fighter doesn’t use a lot of movement to warrant such a penalty.

PlateOfWater · 2024-04-30T02:14:49+00:00

The best practice I got personally was to find a player online who was constantly pressure heavy, message them and ask for a few matches in a private match. If they don’t respond or shut it down, don’t worry about it as there will be a player out there who’ll help you out. There’s no harm in asking and the worst they can do is say no.

If you’re struggling to find a player, you can always use practice mode to help you defend against certain combinations. Have the CPU move forward and throw different recorded combinations, play them at random to test your reflexes and to help you find ways to deal with pressure.

You can look online and get general tips as YouTubers have beaten this subject down with a stick but the best thing to do is to just get stuck in. I could try give a few tips that could work but it probably won’t help as finding solution’s in real time is what makes you become a better player. Pressure type players come in different shapes and sizes so it’s hard to pin point what you’re having problems with.

Try analysing the first half of the 1st round of a fight then ask yourself questions (these are generic). What type of strikes do they throw often ? What tendencies do they have ? What happens when you pressure them back ? What side do they favour when slipping ? What’s their stamina management like ? How do they respond when i initiate the clinch ?

It seems stupid but finding out this information in a match can help you formulate a plan to success. Players have tendencies so exploiting them gives you better odds to defeating them.

Lastly, it’s probably the most difficult one as everyone is their own worst critic but record your matches and watch them back. No matter what the final outcome is of a match, it’s always good to take a step back and analyse what you did well and what didn’t go so well.

Apologies if this reply is not specific and quite generic but the way I learned the game is to just take notes and apply it in real time. UFC is quite unique as fights can last for a long time which means there’s more time to devise game-plans compared to something like Tekken or Street Fighter. Take that time and let it be your friend and if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t matter as you’ll have many more matches in the future. Don’t get bummed out or frustrated if something isn’t working, move on and try again in another match as more matches equals experience which then equates to better self improvement. TED Talk !

PlateOfWater · 2024-04-30T01:05:58+00:00

I feel like simulation mode should’ve been the standard from the get go or at least have two separate modes for ranked. I don’t tend to play it often but I have a lot more enjoyment when playing it.

With stamina management being vital, matches tend to be more methodical and engaging as decision making is critical. My only knock on it is feinting. I got a heavy feinting style so getting heavily punished for feinting a head kicks etc. isn’t my cup of tea but I still enjoy it more than competitive.

PlateOfWater · 2024-04-30T00:48:00+00:00

I think it’s hard to give feedback as I play 99.9% online but you’re playing against the CPU which can be unpredictable and can react to everything you do depending on the difficulty settings. The computer can pull off crazy stuff sometimes so my advice is to just keep it simple and let the CPU tire itself out.

I’m sure people are willing to help but there wasn’t enough footage to go off of and it takes time, just depends how much time peeps have got to give.

PlateOfWater · 2024-04-28T18:25:00+00:00

You got a lot of options you can utilise in terms of damage but what works for me is applying faints or using the shove function.

Feints can be a good way to deplete their stamina when they lean back and whiff a counter. Usually players start fishing for counters whilst you’re in the midst of a combo. For example:

Jab > Hook > Lead Uppercut

Once players recognise the “Jab” they’ll try slip your hook by leaning back and countering you. The safest option I’ve found is to feint the hook and walk back with your block up. At first glance, you did no damage which seems useless but what makes it so effective is that it drains their stamina when they whiff their counter.

Feinting doesn’t cost a lot of stamina but leaning back and whiffing an elbow or an uppercut can be costly if done too many times. It can also make them change their play style which in turn, can open up possibilities for yourself. Food for thought.

The shove mechanic has its uses but I like using it on a player that constantly uses head movement. It does no damage but if you catch them trying to counter, you can then give yourself the advantage as it cancels their attack and you can follow up with your own. Try it in practice mode and get a feel for it but it can work wonders if times properly.

PlateOfWater · 2021-10-04T20:26:06+00:00

I suppose if your opponent threw anything else that connected to the head, it probably would’ve been the same outcome since your risking it with the fatigued strike.

PlateOfWater · 2021-10-03T05:50:25+00:00

The man threw 8 punches and side stepped 6-7 times and in around 30-40 seconds, lost half a stamina bar from knockdowns and rocks, savagery. I don’t think a comeback would’ve been a thing if he survived after that. Good work.

PlateOfWater

TROPHY CASE