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By Anthony De Franco  March 1, 2010, at 2:25 am  There is a lot to report in the world of video game MMA. THQ has begun the UFC 2010: Undisputed news cycle as they are going to release a new blog post every tuesday and Thursday, and do a Q & A with the community every two weeks. Be sure to get your questions in on their forums to make sure that they get answered.
Of course, We’ll be here to break down the news for all the true MMA fans. You know, all the people who are more excited about Gogopalatas than Kimbo Slice.
Let’s get started with some of the answers from this week’s Q & A:
Q: Are there going to be TKO’s due to injury and stoppage in Undisputed 2010?
Yes! Victories in 2010 can be achieved in a number of ways, one of which is stoppage due to cuts and injury. Did anyone tune in to UFC 110 and see the Bonnar fight that ended due to ref/doctor stoppage? ‘Stoppage’ was one of the biggest requests from our fan base, so we just had to implement these victory conditions.
A welcome addition for sure. MMA is a complex sport that has a lot of different ways to end a fight, and as such all of them should be represented in virtual form. It remains to be seen if Herb Dean is going to dive in and pull you off of your counterpart, but I hope he does.
Q: KO animations: have they changed?
Completely. Last year, we divulged that KO animations were a combination of animation and free form physics. The same is still true this year, but we changed a few things…We’ve emphasized the physics share of the equation much more. This makes the Knockout a much more high fidelity experience. How the KO looks will also be a product of how a player gets his lights put out: depending on where and how hard you land a strike, you’ll get a different looking KO. Cant wait to see some community compilations come May!
Last year, one of my biggest gripes with the game was the flying mouthpieces. While it was cool the first few times, it just made the whole thing feel fake. Now, no word on if that still happens, but we do get new KO animations. Let’s just hope that knocked out fighters don’t end up looking like ragdolls.
Q: Whats up with the game menu this year?
We redesigned the entire navigation system so you can get to where you want quickly and easily. ‘Nuff said.
Thank you, Jesus. Last year’s game was so clumsy in terms of menu navigation that it made not want to change the sponsors on my shorts in career mode. Seriously, it took SIX clicks of the “A” button to change one logo on my shorts. Does that make any sense to anyone? It’s good to hear that this complaint was heard. Hopefully the menu system makes more sense the second time around.
Alright, that is it from the Q & A, so let’s move on to the Blog entry regarding submissions.
We’ve kept the bread and butter subs that you know and love from last year’s Undisputed, but we’ve added some great variations and new options for those who want to use them. We saw a ton of people asking for the full Omoplata submission in 2010, which you’ll now be able to execute in the virtual octagon. Even the rare and elusive Gogoplata is making its Undisputed 2010 debut. Nothing spells ‘awesome’ like an shoulder lock to submission, right?
We’ve also added the Americana, D’Arce (think Thiago vs Swick in UFC 109), Peruvian Necktie, Achilles lock, Ankle Lock, Heel Hook, Arm Triangle, and tons of leg locks, just to name a few. You’ll even see some Ultimate fighters breaking out their signature subs on the mat, like BJ Penn’s rear naked choke by way of arm trap (think UFC 101 and his submission of Kenny Florian).
In addition to over twice as many new submissions along with their own distinct animations, there are new positions from which you can attempt a submission. Your posture when in the guard will affect what submission you can initiate. So if you’re down posture, you’ll be going for a Kimura whereas if your postured up, you’ll be going for a kneebar.
Another complaint from last year’s game was that there simply were not enough submissions. Now, that should be solved as just about every submission I can think of that I’ve seen in a fight in the last five or six years is in there. Well, actaully, there is no anaconda choke, which has to annoy Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Nothing lifeshattering, but some good reveals nonetheless.
By Anthony De Franco December 22, 2009, at 6:28 pm I’ve watched last Saturday’s Strikeforce card a few times now. Mainly because it was a fantastic card, highlighted by two amazing fights. However, another reason is that I wanted to watch “Jacare” Souza’s impressive victory over Matt Lindland again. After assuring myself of what I originally thought, I know that Jacare deserves a title shot.
In addition to an absurd list of BJJ achievements, he has added a striking game as showcased in this past fight. The biggest knock on guys who have a BJJ base is that they never really develop any kind of boxing or kickboxing to go along with their grappling. As a result, you get guys like Demian Maia leaving themselves open for highlight KO’s at the hands of more well-rounded fighters like Nate Marquardt.
According to the post-fight presser, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker suggested that “Jacare” is in line for a rematch with “Mayhem” Miller whom he was involved in a No Contest with in DREAM. Miller connected with an illegal upkick that opened a cut on Souza’s face that ended the fight. With the advancement in Souza’s game, I don’t expect him to have a problem with the clown prince of MMA.
However, why waste our time by giving him Miller? There is going to be a middleweight title fight between Dan Henderson and current champion Jake Shields. Henderson is a legend on the sport, and will likely defeat Shields, who is a transplanted welterweight. Is there a more exciting match-up for Strikeforce than Hendo v. Jacare? I really don’t think so.
What are you risking by waiting? The only problem is the potential for injury for the title winner. However, if that happens, you just place Jacare against Miller for the number one contendership. Problem solved.
Jacare against Hendo would put an Olympic wrestler against a BJJ master. A good style matchup would pull in fighter, even if I expect Hendo to KO Jacare before it ever gets to the ground. The point is that the fight would make money.
That’s what Strikeforce needs.
By Matt Soldano December 1, 2009, at 3:40 pm I love it when there are some really obvious moves in the world of sports that general managers should make and they flat out ignore it or make up some BS reason as to why they choose to no longer pursue a certain athlete. I might not be like Jason, who thrives at mixing and matching players’ contracts or figuring out team’s salary cap situation, but a move like this makes me believe that maybe becoming a General Manager is not as difficult as people make it out to be.
A day after Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach Eddie Jordan and GM Ed Stefanski met with Free Agent Allen Iverson in Dallas, no deal is in place and both parties seem to be “non-committal” at the moment. Despite the fact that several sources are reporting “there is no doubt” he will be coming back, I remember hearing the same sort of reports when the Knicks were targeting AI. Yet, it never happened and to me the Knicks did a huge disservice to their fans, a fan base that has suffered nearly a decade through uneventful season after uneventful season.
The Sixers need the future Hall of Famer more so than New York and it makes even more sense! Look at the injuries that Philly is battling through:
- Lou Williams: Jaw Injury – Out 8 weeks
- Mareese Speights: Knee Injury – Out 6-8 weeks
- Elton Brand: Hamstring Injury – Came back last night, though admitted not 100%
With Speights and Williams out until after the new year, the Sixers are missing 30 points and are struggling to find a cast of characters to shoulder the load. Andre Iguodala (the other AI) has struggled shooting the ball (42%, compared to his career 47% FG) and Thaddeus Young has not become fully comfortable with Eddie Jodan’s offensive style. Iverson becomes the scorer of the team and most of all a closer, something the Sixers have desperately lacked. The team is 5-13 and falling fast in the Eastern Conference but 7 of those losses have come by six points or less. Iverson knows the big stage and can show up brightest in those spots.
Yes, the roster is young, and the question will always center around would Iverson stunt the growth of the team. A playoff birth is not out of the question with Iverson. He could keep them afloat just enough so when Lou Williams and Speights come back healthy, they could push for that 7th or 8th seed. Milwaukee, Charlotte, and Indiana (the current 6-8 seeds) are anything but locks for a playoff bid and it would not shock anyone if they fell off the map.
So Philadelphia, let’s look at the pro’s here. You generate local/national buzz, you are able to sell tickets and jerseys, and gain some sort of national relevance. The con’s you deal withanother AI fallout at the end of the year since he will be on a one-year deal. This does not even need to be thought about! I could have told you all of this in three words but I thought 509 would make my argument more convincing.
SIGN ALLEN IVERSON! Armsleeve night would be one hell of a promotion.
By Anthony De Franco November 25, 2009, at 5:25 pm Looks like everyone’s favorite Long Island based fighter is getting back in the cage for the UFC.
Matt Serra has announced that he is taking on Frank Trigg at UFC 109. Here’s the news from MMA Weekly:
Matt Serra on Wednesday confirmed his next fight, posting on his official facebook page that he has signed to fight Frank Trigg on Feb. 6 at UFC 109. The event is scheduled for the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“Signed to fight Frank Trigg on Feb. 6 in Vegas (UFC). Should be an exciting fight!!!” wrote Serra. “I love the UFC… they keep hooking me up with the most arrogant guys to punch in the face!!!”
Serra (9-6) is currently on a two-fight skid, losing the UFC welterweight title to Georges St-Pierre and then dropping a decision to former champion Matt Hughes in May of this year. He is 1-2 in the Octagon since making his return via “The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback.” Serra was granted a title shot for winning the reality series, taking full advantage by taking the belt from St-Pierre before losing it in their rematch.
Trigg (19-7) made his return to the Octagon at UFC 103 in Dallas, where he quickly suffered a TKO loss to Josh Koscheck in the opening round. Having captured titles in many smaller organizations, he is currently 37 years old and making what is likely his last run at success in the UFC.
This is a matchup between two veterans who desperately need this fight. Serra is coming off a loss to Matt Hughes that he claims he won, but I think he was a little delusional. Trigg is coming off a loss to a top five welterweight in Josh Koscheck where he thinks that the fight was stopped early.
This is a fight where you have two guys whose base arts are on the ground. If Trigg was to take Serra down, could “The Terror” use his excellent BJJ to submit him? Sure. Could Trigg put enough pressure on Serra to grind out a decision? Probably.
For whatever reason, I see this fight staying on the feet, and I see Trigg outclassing Serra in a decision.
That being said, I love both these guys and wish them the best of luck.
By Anthony De Franco October 20, 2009, at 10:51 pm I love the way that most Jet fans are reacting to their team this week. After winning their first three games, every single one of them started thinking Super Bowl. Mark Sanchez was the greatest rookie quarterback of all time, and Rex Ryan was the most brilliant man to ever coach a game of football. This was the season that every Jet fan was waiting for since Joe Willie trotted out of Super Bowl III as the most popular athlete in the world for that one day in 1969.
Now, after three straight losses everyone has jumped off the bandwagon as if it was on fire. They have basically denounced their teams, and started talking about how they wished they were fans of a real football team. They are all doing everything short calling Mark Sanchez a bust.
The reality of the situation is that the 3-0 start clouded the judgment of a fan base whose team has serious holes. The team simply needs improvement in many areas, and they are nowhere ready to win now. In fact, they are probably still a few years away from serious competition, but no one wants hear that.
Why did everyone think that Mark Sanchez wasn’t going to go through his share of growing pains? I’m not suggesting that anyone could have predicted the five interception debacle that was last Sunday afternoon, but did anyone really think that he was going to be perfect the entire season? Looking like Vince Chase from Entourage only gets you so far.
Why did anyone in the world think that Rex Ryan was going to be a perfect head coach in his first season? For all the good he did with the defense in weeks one and two, he hasn’t really done a whole lot since. Kerry Collins spent the second half of the Titans game doing his best impression of Joe Montana, The Saints moved the ball well, Ted Ginn made Darelle Revis look terrible, and this week, the coup de grace, his defense lost to Havard grad Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Why did anyone think that this team would remain in perfect health? After all, this is a club that has one of the league’s thinnest rosters. Now that Kris Jenkins is out for the year with a torn ACL, Sione Pouha is going to be anchoring the most important position in the Jets 3-4 defense. When Lito Sheppard was out, opposing wide receivers were left quivering in fear of Dwight Lowery. Jerricho Cotchery missed time and the Jets had to call Danny Woodhead up to the active roster AND change his position from running back to wide receiver. Every single NFL team is going to deal with injuries, but the ones that are prepared are the ones that contend for championship. Quality depth is just as important as having good starters. The Jets simply don’t have it.
Instead of the Super Bowl team that Gang Green fans thought they had, the Jets are simply another mediocre football team. Sanchez is still a work in progress. Ryan, while an excellent defensive coordinator, is still a first year head coach. Most importantly, the Jets roster is just not set for a push deep into the playoffs.
Rather than leaping off the cliff, Jets fans simply need to see the big picture. Work in progress means that there is potential there. Sanchez will be the franchise QB of the New York Jets. Rex Ryan can be a winning coach with some experience. One more good draft can be enough to get the depth they need.
Just don’t expect the world from this team so quickly, and you won’t be disappointed.
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