Fan Feedback for EA Sports UFC 6

I’ve been a dedicated fan of the UFC video game series since UFC 1, and I’m writing to provide detailed feedback as someone who has spent countless hours playing these games. While I love the franchise, I’ve grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of depth and passion in recent instalments across striking, grappling, submissions, and overall fighter mechanics.

When I first watched UFC live, I found the sport itself somewhat boring. It was only after playing the video games that I began to truly appreciate how technical and intricate real fights are. The games have the unique ability to educate players on strategy, timing, and technique, turning casual viewers into informed, passionate fans. The current instalments have shown care in certain areas, such as striking, but the same level of attention and authenticity isn’t consistently applied across all aspects of the game.

I believe UFC 6 has the opportunity to go beyond simply catering to casual players. By rewarding skill, strategy, and authentic fighter styles—similar to how FIFA engages casual players but still prioritises depth for hardcore fans—the game can incentivise casuals to become more hardcore, while giving longtime fans the complexity they crave. This feedback represents a fan perspective informed by years of experience, both in the real sport and in the video game series.

Suggested Changes for EA Sports UFC 6

1. Striking System

• Landing Strikes Should Be Harder

In UFC 5, it’s too easy to land clean shots. In real fights, landing a significant strike requires setups and timing. UFC 6 should make us work harder to connect, so every strike feels rewarding.

• Recovery After Stuns Should Involve Skill

Opponents in UFC 5 recover unrealistically fast, often fighting as if nothing happened. In real fights, being rocked changes everything.

Suggested Fix: Add a player-controlled recovery system using analog sticks (like Rockstar’s “drunk” mechanic in GTA/RDR). This adds skill-based depth and realism.

• Flash Knockouts Need To Be More Common

Currently, fighters often need 5–6 knockdowns before a KO. In real fights, a single clean shot can end it.

Impact of Harder-to-Land Strikes: Once landing strikes requires skill and setup, the chances of flash knockouts should naturally increase and feel more satisfying. This makes precision striking more rewarding and punishes reckless or poorly timed aggression.

1a. Footwork & Movement Mechanics

• Issue: Many players find the footwork in UFC 5 unresponsive, with poor positioning rarely punished. Real fights reward smart movement and punishing overcommitted opponents.
• Suggested Fix: Make footwork more deliberate and impactful. Overcommitting, poor lateral movement, or backing into corners should leave fighters open to counters.
• Impact: Encourages skilful positioning, improves defensive gameplay, and adds another layer of realism to striking exchanges.

1. Animations & Pace

• More Strike Variety Needed: Real fighters throw strikes with subtle differences. A larger animation library would make fighters feel unique and realistic.
• Slightly Slower Overall Gameplay: UFC 5 can feel cartoonish at times. A small slowdown makes exchanges more authentic and impactful.
• Weight Class Speed Differences: Lighter divisions (flyweights, bantamweights) are fast but weaker; heavyweights are slower but hit harder.

Suggested Fix: Emphasise speed, fluidity, and stamina for lighter classes, and increase knockout power for heavier classes.

Impact: This gives players a reason to choose lower weight classes, creating fast-paced, skill-based fights that are fun and rewarding. Currently, many avoid them because they feel less exciting compared to heavier divisions.

1. Damage System

• Current Issues: Damage in UFC 5 is often cosmetic or exploitable (e.g., doctor stoppages with little effect on gameplay).
• Proposed Fix: If landing strikes is harder, visible damage (cuts, bruises, swelling) becomes meaningful.
• Impact: Players are encouraged to engage strategically and actively, mirroring real fights where accumulating damage impacts performance and can end a fight.

Additional Purpose: With harder-to-land strikes, opponents might try to avoid attacks and run away. The damage system prevents this over time, as even small strikes accumulate, creating pressure and incentivising engagement rather than stalling.

1. Fighter Styles & Identity

• Replicate Real-Life Strengths and Weaknesses: Fighters in UFC 5 often feel interchangeable. Real fights are defined by styles and matchups.

Example: Alex Pereira is dominant moving forward but weaker fighting off the back foot. UFC 6 should replicate this, forcing players to fight like their real-life counterparts.

Elaboration: The game should almost require players to use each fighter in their real-life style. If a fighter excels at forward pressure, fighting defensively should reduce effectiveness; if a fighter thrives on counters, aggressive rushing should carry higher risk. This ensures that the fighter you select matters for matchup strategy, and countering an opponent’s chosen fighter becomes a key tactical decision. Players can no longer rely on generic play styles; success depends on understanding and executing the fighter’s authentic approach.

• Unique Play styles Add Depth: Like hero shooters such as Overwatch, each fighter should feel unique. Players should adapt their style to the fighter’s strengths and weaknesses, creating meaningful choices and encouraging strategic gameplay.

1. Grappling System

• Still Behind Striking in Quality: Grappling in UFC 5 is shallow; many players avoid it because it feels limited and repetitive. In real fights, grappling is as technical as striking.
• Expanded Transitions: Current positions allow only ~3–4 transitions, limiting depth. Suggested Fix: Use both sticks—left for direction, right for expanded transitions—making each position more dynamic.

Impact: Players will want to engage on the ground because skilled play is rewarded and choices are meaningful.

• Struggle Mechanic for Realism: Allow fighters to attempt risky transitions at the cost of stamina. Example: Sprawl and waste energy, or stay patient and risk being advanced on.

Impact: Adds real-time risk/reward decisions, making ground fights more exciting and rewarding for skilled players.

• Encourage Active Engagement: Prevent passive top-position play by combining transitions and struggle mechanics. This keeps grappling engaging, mirrors real fight dynamics, and motivates players to fight strategically.
• Educational Potential: A deeper grappling system teaches players the complexity of real ground fighting, transforming it from an ignored mechanic into a fun, skilful aspect of the game.

1. Clinch System

• Currently Abused: Clinches in UFC 5 are often spammed for elbows. In real fights, clinching requires setup and positioning.
• Proposed Fix: If striking is harder to land, clinches become strategic, requiring proper positioning and timing.

Impact: Players will want to use the clinch because it rewards planning, timing, and skill, rather than acting as a spammy shortcut.

1. Submission System

• Unrealistic Execution: In UFC 5, locking in a choke only reduces a health bar, requiring repeated attempts. In real fights, a choke often ends the fight immediately unless escaped.
• Suggested Fix: Remove the submission health bar. The challenge should be securing the submission position.
• Added Depth: Introduce a wider array of submission techniques and transitions, allowing players to use more skill, strategy, and timing on the ground. This creates depth similar to striking, so submissions feel skill-based rather than repetitive.
• Impact: Submissions feel more realistic and rewarding. Once locked in, fights are likely to end, mirroring real UFC dynamics, while maintaining skill-based depth.

Conclusion

UFC 6 has the potential to be the most immersive and skill-driven entry in the franchise yet. By implementing these changes, the game can better reflect the technical depth, strategy, and realism of real UFC fights while rewarding players who invest time in mastering its systems. My feedback comes from a place of passion as a longtime fan, and I truly hope it can help guide the development of a game that both challenges and excites players.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this feedback. I’m looking forward to seeing UFC 6 reach its full potential and provide an experience that satisfies both longtime fans and new players alike.