Playing & Ranking Every MMA Video Game
A task nobody asked me to do.
MMA video games. Where else can you experience the thrill of getting virtually knocked out by a pixelated Brock Lesnar while button spamming?
Over the years, MMA fans have had a wide range of quality in our game adaptations. From true gems to absolute disasters, and everything in between.
This ultimately requires a list of what these games, and where they fall in a semi-structured ranking system. Why? Because we like rankings at Fight Island.
This journey will take us through the dark ages of early 2000s MMA gaming where fighters moved like refrigerators on ice skates to the modern era where we still can't get a Pride FC mode back. You are cowards Electronic Arts. Cowards.
A quick note in the criteria I chose. Mostly, I focused on games that were more about the essence of the sport of MMA. Be it a fighting game, or a management game. Games where MMA fighters appear as a side character, or amongst other fighting styles (eg. Tekken, Street Fighter) I didn’t include as those are not really “MMA-focused” as the games in this list are. I’d keep those comfortably in the “esports/fighting game” genre, while these games below would be classified as “MMA sports games.” Hopefully that makes sense. If not, contact
.Depths of Despair
15. Ultimate Fighting Championship
Release: 2000
Platform: Sega Dreamcast, GameBoy Color
Before the UFC became a global phenomenon, this Dreamcast & GameBoy Color relic captured the sport's brutal early days with all the technical finesse of a backyard brawl. For this review, I’ll focus on the Dreamcast edition as the GBC one is, simply put, the same but limited with its space due to being on a cartridge. Featuring blocky renditions of legends like Tank Abbott and Ken Shamrock, the game played like a proof-of-concept for what MMA games could eventually become - if you squinted hard enough through the fog of janky animations. Strikes landed with all the impact of a pillow fight, while the grappling system was about as intuitive as performing an actual armbar blindfolded.
What saves this from being a total disaster is its presentation. You can tell a lot of effort went in to present the fights, well…actual UFC fights. There’s also the benefit of some unintentional comedy. Watching two polygonal meatheads clip through each other while the crowd cheers like they're witnessing prime Fedor is somehow charming in 2024. The roster, while small, was a time capsule of the sport's no-holds-barred era - back when weight classes were more of a suggestion than a rule. Just don't expect any Pride FC-level presentation; this was back when UFC production values meant a chain-link fence and someone's uncle commentating.
For MMA historians or Dreamcast completionists only. Everyone else should pretend this early experiment never happened and jump straight to UFC Undisputed 3. Playing this today feels less like nostalgia and more like archaeological research into how far MMA games have come. At least it's better than UFC Sudden Impact... though that's not saying much.
That said, I am going through and trying to get all the RetroAchievements trophies for this game, which I think would qualify me as a gaming god.
14. Bellator: MMA Onslaught
Release: 2012
Platform: Xbox Arcade, PlayStation Network
Released during MMA's golden age, Bellator: MMA Onslaught stood out quite a lot. First, the name was probably the worst video game title for an MMA game up until EA took over the UFC line and just went with EA UFC. Very original. It also stands out as a title that was only available on Xbox Arcade or PSN, which instantly qualified it as “bargain bin shovelware” and that is unique.
This was the gaming equivalent of a regional fighter trying to hang with UFC talent - it had heart, but the skill gap was so, so painfully obvious. This Xbox Live Arcade/PSN title delivered Bellator's signature tournament format and recognizable fighters like Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez, but everything else felt like a bargain bin version of UFC Undisputed. The striking was floaty, the grappling was a confusing mess of button prompts, and the career mode was so shallow it made a Bellator prelim look like a PPV main event.
What really hurt was how close it came to being decent. The tournament mode actually captured some of Bellator's unique charm, and seeing the familiar yellow cage brought back memories of Spike TV's glory days. But the janky animations (fighters moved like they were underwater), lack of roster depth, and complete absence of meaningful ground game made this feel more like a proof-of-concept than a finished product. The "onslaught" in the title apparently referred to the wave of disappointment players felt when realizing they'd just spent $15 on what was essentially a demo.
For hardcore MMA fans in 2012, this was at least a novelty - the only place to virtually recreate Bellator's tournaments before the promotion itself became a UFC feeder league. But with UFC Undisputed 3 releasing the same year, there was absolutely no reason to play this unless you were a diehard Bellator stan or really wanted to watch your fighter clip through the cage like a glitchy ghost. A forgettable footnote in MMA gaming history that somehow makes EA's MMA look like a masterpiece by comparison.
13. UFC Sudden Impact
Release: 2004
Platform: PlayStation 2
The "Sudden Impact" is more how quickly the game became hot trash.
Let's start with what might be the worst MMA game ever made. I mean that genuinely. UFC Sudden Impact was so bad it made actual UFC fights look like ballet performances. The controls were incredibly sticky. Think the opposet of GSP’s greasegate. Striking in the game felt about as impactful as a gentle autumn breeze, while the grappling system made about as much sense as complex physics. (Note: I’m not a physicist so I can’t speak to how complex it gets).
Although the game is 20+ years old, it’s still worth noting how atrocious the graphical presentation was. Character models were so horrifying they probably could scare small children. This was the kind of game that made you question whether the developers had ever actually seen an MMA fight.
If you ever find yourself nostalgic for early 2000s MMA games, do yourself a favor and watch old Pride FC highlights instead. Your sanity will thank you.
12. UFC Personal Trainer
Release: 2011
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii
Imagine taking the worst parts of fitness games and MMA, throwing them in a blender, and serving the resulting sludge to unsuspecting consumers. That's UFC Personal Trainer. This clearly was not a fighting game—it was a workout simulator with UFC branding slapped on like a cheap sticker because chasing a quick buck is all Dana White and co. know how to do.
The game had you doing squats, push-ups, and other exercises while a digital Dana White yelled motivational nonsense at you. This is actually fitting given his personal background as a boxercise trainer. The motion controls were about as responsive as you’d expect from an early 2010s game that relied on motion controls. In that they did not work well at all. The "MMA" elements were tacked on so poorly they might as well not have existed.
The only submission present in this game was the sense of dignity you once had.
11. UFC: Tapout
Release: 2002
Platform: Xbox
Ah, Tapout—the game that proved early 2000s MMA titles were about as polished as a backyard wrestling match. This Xbox game featured fighters who moved more like robots with arthritis than seasoned atheletes. The striking was pretty atrociously made, and grappling as usual for an MMA game was about as intuitive as assembling IKEA furniture without instructions.
The roster was decent for its time, with legends like Tito Ortiz and Jens Pulver, but the gameplay was so stiff it made the fighters look like they were trapped in molasses. The career mode was relatively barebones, and the CPU for the computer controlled opponents was dumber than a bag of hammers.
Still, there's a weird charm to Tapout—like finding an old, beat-up action figure in your attic. It's not good by any means, but it’s a nostalgic reminder of a time when MMA games were still figuring out what the hell they were supposed to be.
10. UFC: Throwdown
Release: 2002
Platform: PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube
UFC Throwdown was another early attempt at bringing MMA to consoles, and it was about as successful as a one-legged man in a kicking contest. Interestingly, it was released around the same time as UFC: Tapout, but was not a specific-console exclusive, and thus was on the PS2 and GameCube. Truly remarkable stuff in that there were two UFC branded games that were not the exact same existing at the same time.
In terms of gameplay, it won’t be surprising that striking was stiff, the grappling was confusing, and the career mode was as deep as a puddle. This was the early days of MMA video games after all.
That said, it did have Bas Rutten, which automatically earns it some points. The game also tried to incorporate Pride FC rules (sort of), which was ambitious for 2002. Unfortunately, the execution was about as smooth as a sandpaper massage.
Throwdown isn’t the worst MMA game ever made, but it’s also not one you’d ever go back to unless you were feeling particularly masochistic. It’s the gaming equivalent of a fighter who had all the tools but no idea how to use them.
An Old Friend We Still Love
9. Pride FC
Release: 2003
Platform: PlayStation 2
This PS2 relic is like finding your grandpa's black belt in the attic - you respect what it represents, even if it's covered in dust and smells weird. The roster was incredible for its time, featuring legends like Fedor and Wanderlei Silva back when they still had all their brain cells. The striking system was surprisingly decent, though grappling was about as intuitive as reading hieroglyphics.
The real charm was in the presentation - the iconic Pride FC ring, the screaming Japanese crowd, the terrifyingly bad English commentary that sounded like it was recorded in someone's basement. It captured the chaotic energy of early Pride events, where fights could end via soccer kick to the face or accidental groin shot.
Would I actually play this today? God no. But I'll pour one out for it like an old friend who died doing what they loved - in this case, being a janky PS2 fighting game.
Kinda Good!
8. EA Sports MMA
Release: 2010
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, iOS
EA's awkward attempt to compete with UFC games by licensing everyone who wasn't in the UFC (Strikeforce, DREAM, etc.) was like showing up to prom in a tuxedo t-shirt. The roster was actually decent - Nick Diaz, Fedor, and Overeem all made appearances - but it lacked that UFC polish. The controls used a weird hybrid of Fight Night's analog system and traditional MMA controls, resulting in a gameplay experience that felt like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach simultaneously.
The career mode had some neat ideas, like training at different camps, but was ultimately forgettable. The biggest crime? Making Randy Couture the cover athlete when he wasn't even in the same league as Fedor and the others. At least according to Dana White at the time.
It's not terrible, just tragically mediocre - the game equivalent of a fighter who's good everywhere but great nowhere.
7. UFC Undisputed 2010
Release: 2010
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, iOS
THQ's follow-up to their 2009 hit was like when a band releases a decent second album - improved in some areas, worse in others. The striking felt more impactful, but somehow also more robotic. The career mode was deeper but bogged down by tedious training minigames that made you want to gouge your eyes out.
The roster was stacked with both current stars and legends, though some fighters moved like they were wearing concrete shoes. The submission system was revamped into something resembling an old-school fighting game command input, which was cool until you realized no one actually submits people with 12-button combos in real life.
It's the kind of game that makes you appreciate how far MMA games have come while also making you nostalgic for when they were simpler. Not quite as good as its predecessor or successor, but still a solid entry in the series.
6. EA UFC 3
Release: 2018
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
EA finally figured out how to make punches and kicks feel satisfying in this entry. The stand-up game was crisp, with beautiful combinations that actually flowed like real MMA. The new "rocked" mechanic made fights feel more dynamic - one clean shot could turn the tide instantly, just like in real life.
The career mode was... well, it existed. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't exactly groundbreaking either. The real star was the online modes, where you could either have competitive fights or watch two idiots spam spinning kicks until someone's head exploded.
It's held back by the still-clunky ground game and some questionable physics (I once saw a fighter's leg bend 180 degrees during a takedown), but this was the first EA UFC game that actually felt like MMA rather than a weird MMA-flavored fighting game.
5. EA UFC 5
Release: 2023
Platform: PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube
The latest entry is like that friend who gets a fancy new job but still wears the same old sneakers - improved in some areas, stubbornly the same in others. The Frostbite engine makes every punch, kick, and gruesome cut look disgustingly beautiful. The new "real-time damage" system is equal parts impressive and horrifying - watching a fighter's face slowly turn into hamburger meat is not for the squeamish.
The striking feels weighty and satisfying, though the ground game still has all the grace of two drunk bears wrestling. The career mode adds some neat narrative elements, though it still suffers from EA's trademark "wide as an ocean, deep as a puddle" design philosophy.
It's the best UFC game EA has made... but that's not saying as much as it should. Here's hoping UFC 6 finally gives us that Pride FC mode we've all been begging for since 2012.
4. EA UFC 4
Release: 2020
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
EA finally put everything together in this entry. The striking was fluid, the grappling was... well, it was there, and the career mode actually had some personality for once. The new "clinch to takedown" system made the wrestling exchanges feel more organic, even if it still wasn't perfect.
The customization options were insane - where else could you make a 5'2" heavyweight with the physique of a sack of potatoes and watch him knock out Francis Ngannou? The online modes were the real star though, offering everything from competitive ranked matches to absolute clown fiesta backyard brawls.
It's not without its flaws (the ground game still feels like solving a Rubik's cube blindfolded), but it's the most well-rounded MMA game to date. The kind of game you can still pop in years later and have a blast with.
On That Secret Juice
3. World of MMA 5
Release: 2019
Platform: PC
If you've ever dreamed of being Dana White but with worse hair and even more questionable decision-making, World of MMA 5 is here to make those dreams a (virtual) reality. This isn't just a game—it's a 500-hour MBA in fight promotion where the final exam is trying not to bankrupt your company after your heavyweight champ demands a private jet and a lifetime supply of Monster Energy. The depth is staggering: you'll micromanage everything from fighter contracts (good luck explaining why your main event is getting paid in exposure) to arena hot dog prices (the real key to profitability). Just when you think you've got a handle on things, your star fighter will retire to become a TikTok influencer, leaving you to rebuild your entire promotion around a 42-year-old journeyman with the chin of a porcelain vase.
The beauty of World of MMA 5 lies in its ability to turn spreadsheet management into edge-of-your-seat drama. That 4-star prospect you've been carefully grooming? He just got knocked out by a can crusher you signed as a last-minute replacement. The media darling you built your brand around? She's now demanding a title shot despite having the wrestling defense of a drunk kangaroo. Every decision carries weight—overspend on production values and you'll be funding your next event out of pocket; underpay your fighters and watch them defect to your rival promotion faster than Conor McGregor chasing a paycheck. The new "Fighter Ego" system is particularly brutal, simulating the delicate art of managing MMA divas with the precision of a psychologist who's given up on humanity.
Is it for everyone? Absolutely not. The learning curve is steeper than Brock Lesnar's suplex, and the interface looks like it was designed by an accountant with a grudge against joy. But for those willing to dive in, World of MMA 5 delivers the most authentic—and hilariously stressful—MMA management experience ever created. Just be warned: after a few sessions, you'll start evaluating real-life MMA deals like "Hmm, that's a 70/30 revenue split with back-end PPV points..." and suddenly realize the game has consumed your soul. Worth it.
2. UFC Undisputed 2009
Release: 2009
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
This was the game that made us believe that MMA video games could be good.
After years of terrible MMA games, THQ dropped this masterpiece like an overhand right hand from Chuck Liddell. Just picture perfect execution. The striking was crunchy, the grappling was actually intuitive for once, and the career mode was addictively deep. Creating a fighter and taking them from the regional circuit to UFC glory felt like an actual journey rather than a checklist of fights.
The roster was a who's who of late 2000s MMA, from Anderson Silva to Georges St-Pierre in their primes. The presentation nailed the UFC atmosphere, complete with Bruce Buffer's iconic announcements and Joe Rogan yelling "OH!" every five seconds.
It wasn't perfect - the ground game could get messy, and the AI had some questionable fight IQ at times - but it set the standard for what MMA games could be. The kind of game that makes you wish THQ was still around making these sort of games.
1. UFC Undisputed 3
Release: 2012
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
This is the peak of MMA video games.
Everything about this was perfect - the striking had weight, the grappling was deep but accessible, and the Pride FC mode was a love letter to old-school MMA fans. Watching Wanderlei Silva sprint across the ring to stomp someone's head in never got old.
The career mode was incredibly immersive, complete with rivalries that actually felt personal and training that didn't make you want to rip your hair out. The roster was stacked with both current stars and legends, and the create-a-fighter options were insane for the time.
It's the kind of game that makes modern MMA games look bad by comparison. The fact that we still haven't gotten a proper remaster is criminal. If you only play one MMA game in your life, make it this one.
Some Final Thoughts
From the dark ages of UFC Sudden Impact to the glory days of Undisputed 3, MMA games have run the gamut from "unplayable garbage" to "I would sell a kidney for a sequel." Unfortuantely no game has quite captured the magic of Undisputed 3 since its release. I would genuinely love to see someone, preferably not EA, make a spiritual successor but given the relative lack of interest by the likes of the UFC/TKO, and in general gaming moving heavily away from sports titles in general I don’t think that'd be likely to happen. Who knows, maybe we can see Demetrius Johnson show up in a Like A Dragon game. That’d be nice.