Playing UFC with Professional Muay Thai Fighter
By: Abhay Kumar
Tags: PS4, Gaming, MMA, Muay Thai, UFC

If there is any popular sport cherished by humanity, EA is likely to make a game on it. One such sport is MMA, more specifically UFC, an American MMA promotional company. Their latest installment UFC 3 was released in 2018 and is considered very popular for its game mechanics and accuracy to the actual UFC. Now I am no expert in the game or the sport so I sat with the Indian National Champion of Muay Thai Nithin Anjaneya aka potshotter who is also an avid UFC player to know more about it.

What do you like about the game UFC 3?

There are so many things. For starters, the game is very well designed. I usually play using Stand & Bang format as it’s native to Muay Thai, I am still getting used to the ground technique which is not part of Muay Thai combat.

Thailand’s National Sport and also known as “art of 8 limbs” — legs, knees, fists, and elbows are used to strike.

How well are fighters designed?

The most important aspect of combat sport is that every fighter is different. They have different techniques and different styles. Most importantly they have different attributes like speed, precision, accuracy, and power. I have to be honest, the game got it pretty much right. They have also included Bruce Lee by combining the attributes of Conor McGregor & Anderson Silva.

Bruce Lee in UFC

How accurate is the game?

Game is just the simulation of the sport and there are no perfect simulations. Here are the accurate things I found so far.,

Damage Absorption — The damage inflicted on the opponent is based on a lot of parameters like the positioning of the opponent. If you are throwing a left hook and the opponent moves left then the damage inflicted is lower than the scenario when the opponent is standing still.

Kick & Check — When the opponent kicks, you have 3 options. You can evade, you can check(guard the kick using your shin) or you can absorb. Well, you wouldn’t wanna absorb a kick as they are generally powerful, so if you have planned the next attack, you always check. Little is known that even while checking a kick you take damage to the shin. This aspect is actually present in the game which is a pleasant surprise.

Energy Consumption—When you duck, you have to spend more energy compared to moving away. UFC follows the same logic in energy consumption.

Impact — Head is the most vulnerable part of the body, especially in a combat sport. That’s why knockouts are popular by striking on the head. There are more chances of a knockout when the opponent is wobbling. This is pretty much accurate in the game.

Knock Out Punch by McGregger in the game

What’s the best score you have achieved?

Since I understand the technique, I am very cautious about how much energy I am spending and how much stamina I have left. I am able to beat any AI of legendary mode in less than 3 rounds. However, this is in the Stand & Bang format. If we consider the full-blown UFC which includes all aspects of MMA like Karate, Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu, then I am still learning both in the ring as well as in the game.

What do you mean by you being “cautious about the amount of stamina left”?

The amount of stamina you have determines the damage you inflict on the opponent on every strike. Basically, power is directly proportional to stamina. Of course, this is something only known to someone who has been on the ring for more than 10 times.

What are the bad aspects of the game?

Like I mentioned, when you check a kick you also take little damage, the same happens in the ring when you guard a punch. However, you can guard the punches in this game for a really long time and you don’t take any damage. I am sure UFC game developers know this but left it out intentionally for beginners to get used to the game. Maybe they should add it to legendary modes.

What are the improvements you would expect in the next installment of the game?

One of the techniques used by the fighters in the ring is fake & feint. This is something you can’t do in the game. Also, all the bad aspects I mentioned earlier will come into the list. (UFC 3 has added fake strikes via strike canceling as a post-launch update)

How does playing UFC help your Muay Thai training?

In the ring it’s not just about power, you gotta be wicked. You keep thinking about different strategies and combos and you always wonder would they ever work? Trying them in the game helps simulate a fight. Basically, this improves your Fight IQ. Having said that it’s just a game and the ring, well, it’s very different. Anyone can pick up a controller but it takes blood, sweat, and tears to get into the ring.

Yokkao Practice Ring (Thailand)

What’s happening in your career next?

I am currently training for MMA Championships happening at a national level in India. This is really good because MMA is popular in India because of pop culture and will bring a lot of talented fighters to light and improves the community of Martial Arts. I am currently focused on Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu for my MMA training. I just might beat any AI in legendary mode after the training. Let’s definitely catch up again for a follow-up interview after that.

Where can people find you?

I am currently training a lot of students in Banglore. You can follow me on Instagram. You can also follow us at Potshotters on Instagram to know more about how we train and follow fellow athletes.