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Advent Calendar Day 22 - EA Sports MMA
All the latest on EA's Grimm grappler.
Written by Jon Denton, 22 December 2009
The momentum is starting to really pick up for EA Sports MMA. The team has just announced seven more fighters for its roster, and who better than our own MMA expert to break down who each of these guys are, and how they'll play in the game?
First up is CUNG LE, the motion capture artist for the game and former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. Cung is a San Shou fighter, very rare for MMA, and uses a multitude of flashy kicks to create distance and upset the balance of his opponents. He's one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport, simply because he utlises the types of techniques normally reserved for the movies. Expect to see his spinning back kick play a key role in his offense, but as with any fighter who focuses on kicks, he should be fairly easy to take down when one of his legs is dangling in the air. And Le has never shown any signs of a ground game, so strong grapplers should be able to get to him.
Next up we have SCOTT 'HANDS OF STEEL' SMITH. After an unsuccesful run in the UFC, Smith has gone on to headline the most recent Strikeforce event, Evolution, defeating Cung Le in the process. Smith is a brawler, known for having heavy hands and an iron chin. He's the type of fighter than can knock you out in one punch - see the 'Smith vs Sell' link on the right, but takes a lot of damage in the process. Accurate strikers will be able to get the better of him, but never count him out. After taking a 12 minute beating from Le, he rallied to win the fight with a vicious hook, taking the MMA world by complete surprise.
360Zine Issue 48
For our latest EA MMA coverage, click here to download 360Zine Issue 48 for free.MATT LINDLAND is the next addition to the roster. The veteran fighter has been in the ring and cage with almost every big name at light heavyweight, including Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and the great Fedor Emilianenko, but his recent performance against JACARE SOUZA, the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu expert, suggests that Lindland's time as an elite fighter might be up. He'll always have heavy hands, but his lack of head movement and speed will make him a less than favourable choice in the game.
Unlike Souza, who continues to evolve as a fighter. The Jacare nickname actually refers to his alligator like grip, which allows him to best almost anyone in submission grappling. This man can climb a rope with one hand, without using his legs. Incredible. He's been working hard on his boxing in the last year, meaning he'll be a more well rounded choice for submission fans who don't just want to take the fight straight down to the mat.
In JOSH THOMPSON and GILBERT MELENDEZ, you have two young bucks who are well-rounded Mixed Martial Artists, and who competed in one of the fights of the year at Strikeforce Evolution. Melendez came out on top thanks to his superior striking, but both men are more than capable on the feet and on the mat. They're lightweights too, so they're lightning-quick - surely ideal for multiplayer match ups.
Finally, we have former UFC vet ROBBIE LAWLER, a master grappler who can take almost anybody down at will. EA hasn't shown much of the 'ground game' in its new fighter thus far, but Lawler's speedy takedowns and strength on the ground will be a perfect showcase.
With Fedor, Brett Rogers, King Mo Lawal and Frank Shamrock already announced, it's looking like a great roster for EA. Another two combatants will be announced before the end of the year at a press conference in Tokyo, too, so chek back in with GamerZines for the full low down on who they are and how you can expect them to fight.
EA MMA coverage available in 360Zine Issue 48 - click here to download it for free!
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