The sport of mixed martial arts can be as entertaining as it is difficult to fully understand when one is watching for the very first time. As the name suggests, it incorporates various forms of combat styles from boxing, Karate, kickboxing, wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, and more.
Just like the real thing, EA’s UFC 4 is a game that can instantly be entertaining but very difficult to master. There are a lot of mechanics involved when it comes to learning the game’s systems, and EA has done an admirable job of capturing the tactical feel of the sport and putting it into video game form. With such a tactical combat game players should know some of the more advanced offensive and defensive moves in the game.
10 Play Offline Modes
Just like its predecessors, UFC 4 is a complicated game to learn but the developers have done a great job of providing gamers with the tools to learn everything they need to learn before jumping online.
Playing the game’s Career Mode, Fight Now, and Practice definitely helps with making the game’s mechanics become second nature. This is important because there are no helpful hints when playing online and knowing the game inside and out is the key to being successful.
9 Make The Other Guy Miss
In real life combat sports, fighting isn’t just about how many punches the opponent can throw but it’s also about making the other guy miss. This is one of the most effective strategies in the game, especially against online opponents and it’s what separates itself from games like Street Fighter.
Players need to learn how to move side to side and get avoid punches as much as possible. This is because when the guy misses it drains their stamina far more than if they were hitting the player’s guard. A low stamina bar will leave them vulnerable to a flash knockout and won’t be able to throw as many combos.
8 Takedown Defense
Timing is everything when it comes to the mechanics in UFC 4 and for the most part, this is true with the defending takedowns in the game. However, paying attention to what direction the opponent is going is far more important when it comes to stuffing a takedown.
To block a takedown players either need to already have R2 (RT) and L2 (LT) pressed down or about half a second later. They also need to pay attention to which direction the takedown is coming from so they can block with the L stick. If the opponent is moving down toward screen then press down with the left analog stick while keeping the R2 and L2 buttons pressed. In turn, if they are trying to manipulate the player’s fighter up, then press up on the left analog stick, again, with the trigger buttons held down.
7 Takedown Reversals
Another great way to defend a takedown is to reverse it so the player finds themselves the dominant position for ground and pound or submissions. To do this, players need to make sure the L2 (LT), R2 (RT), and R1 (RB) are either held down before the takedown attempt is made or about half a second after.
For players fighting against a takedown specialist, this is one of the most effective and easiest reversals in the game and it looks good too. Reversals don’t work like other fighting games and will take some time to learn the system but it will be worth it.
6 Avoiding The Clinch
In UFC 4 the clinch has a new animation that resembles a rather slow jab. However, if one is caught in it they could be in a for a world of hurt especially going up Muay Thai specialists like Anderson Silva and Shogun Rua.
The best way to avoid this is to practice head movements to slip the clinch attempts as much as possible. Additionally, flicking the Right analog back, left, or right to move out of the way or circle away. If this is timed correctly the opponent will also leave themselves wide open to a devastating counterattack.
5 Getting Out Of The Clinch
Getting trapped in the clinch can be an absolute nightmare for the defending fighter. The key to escaping the clinch is not to panic. The easiest way to escape is to land a quick punch and pull away from their opponent using the R stick to break the hold.
Another way to counter the clinch is to hold R1 (RB) and press the Triangle button (Y on Xbox) this will put the player in an over-under position. From here they can perform a taken down or land some devastating knee strikes.
4 Getting Off The Cage In The Clinch
Getting pressed up against the cage by an opponent can put the defending player in a world of pain. Once in that position, it can be very difficult to get especially for newer players. The trick is not to panic and pay attention to the momentum bar and which direction the dominant fighter is facing.
When the momentum bar shifts in the player’s direction in – either blue or red depending on which corner they are fighting from – the defending player needs to move the left analog stick either up or down to either escape or transition into a dominant position.
3 Plant The Feet
While it’s always an effective strategy to strike and move out of harm’s way as quickly possible this can have a negative impact on the playing fighter’s power and their stamina bar. Planting the feet and standing still to land combos is the best method for landing more efficiently.
Not only does it give the player’s fighter more power in their punches, but they can land combos much faster often beating their opponents to the punch if a flurry breaks out.
2 Learn The Ground Game Offline
Going back to the advice of making players get the most out of UFC 4 by playing the offline single-player modes if there’s one area this needs to be done it’s the ground game. The best thing about the offline modes when on the ground is that it teaches the player where and when to move the Left analog stick with quick-time button prompts.
This obviously doesn’t happen in online games so it’s best to learn the basics offline because the game will teach the player when and where to move when transitioning until becomes second nature. Player’s should also make sure that they change their ground game setting to Legacy or Hybrid in the settings menu screen to fully grasp the mechanics.
1 Denying Transitions On The Ground
Getting taken to the ground by the opposing player can be a daunting prospect for most players especially if they are used to keeping things standing. However, learning how to deny the opponent’s transitions can not only frustrate the opposing player but it can drain their stamina too.
To block the opponent’s transitions on the ground, the player needs to hold R2 (RT) and move the left analog stick in the direction that the opponent is attempting to move the player’s fighter. In many instances, the animations will have certain tells and the best place to practice is this is in Practice Mode.
NEXT: 10 Best Combat Sports Games, Ranked
