Moore hits back at UFC copycat calls

By Robert Purchese Published 15 July, 2009

MMA will bring "innovation, authenticity".

EA Sports boss Peter Moore has brushed off UFC copycat allegations by explaining that Mixed Martial Arts has been in development for at least two years already.

"I know there has been some recent discussion about EA SPORTS bringing a challenger to this sport," says Moore on his blog, referencing yesterday's outburst by Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. "I love mixed martial arts, and we've been working on a game concept since I came to [EA Sports] two years ago.

"I have great respect for the organisations and individuals that have invested in the sport's growth over the past decade - so this is one that is near and dear to me and I'm excited to see such good progress to date.

"I trace my MMA videogame roots back to my support of Crave's UFC title on the Dreamcast in 2000," he adds, "and have been a fan ever since. Our title will bring both innovation and further authenticity to mixed martial arts, not to mention a strong global publishing network that will help spread the sport's popularity around the world."

Dana White had claimed EA snubbed the idea of a UFC game when approached a year and a half ago, but upon seeing the success of UFC 2009 Undisputed has swiftly changed tack.

"EA Sports told us, 'You're not a real sport. We wouldn't touch this thing. We want nothing to do with this,'" said White. "Boy, they got over that real quick, didn't they?"

EA unveiled Mixed Martial Arts at E3 back in June. The plan is to alternate the series with Fight Night to produce a fighting game each year, starting with the inaugural MMA next year.

Yet despite Moore's claims of a long development, nothing has been shown of MMA so far.

We do know, however, that no UFC fighters will appear in the game, as Dana White has banned them from doing so.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (10) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • mkreku #1 3 years ago

    Well, there's still old Pride and new WAMMA, Dream and the other smaller organizations. Personally, I would love an MMA game with Fedor Emelianenko in it!

  • collateral89 #2 3 years ago

    i want to play as kimbo slice but they dont have him

  • themorganator #3 3 years ago

    "Challenge Everything... by...er, copying others"

  • XdarXideX #4 3 years ago

    This is bullshit as usual. 2 years ago maybe it was pitched by a Designer in one of EA's many studios but promptly turned down. That will be your "2 years in development".

  • Golgo #5 3 years ago

    I suggest Peter and Dana strip to their Y-fronts and settle this manfully, by rolling around on the ground and giving each other hickies and Chinese burns.
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/09 @ 10:59

  • LowEnergyCycle #6 3 years ago

    I'm not even sure what's worse: Dana White's thuggish declaration of "war", or Peter Moore's slimy sycophantic back-peddling.

    Of course, this free publicity for BOTH games is an obvious bonus for the pair of these muppets.

  • hibee #7 3 years ago

    In the interests of pedantry there is one UFC fighter likely to be in it - the fabulously monikered Randy Couture. After various legal shenanigans over his last couple of contracts his image rights appear to be different from everyone else's.

  • MiniAmin #8 3 years ago

    I'm a huge fan of MMA and I love the UFC. However, Dana White is so misguided with his megalomaniacal demands regarding UFC fighters. Why shouldn't they be allowed to appear in other games? If UFC fighters appear in an EA game, would that not increase the exposure of the UFC?

    NBA players appear in both NBA live and 2K games. Football players appear in both PES and FIFA. Why not allow the same for UFC fighters? It'd increase the legitimacy of the sport. This silly bickering is producing the opposite effect.

  • PlugMonkey #9 3 years ago

    So, let me get this straight: Dana White speaks out against EA and so everyone automatically believes every word that he says.

    Ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

    Yes. He certainly strikes me as the sort of person who would never embellish the truth to his own advatage!

  • BritishBlue1 #10 3 years ago

    Oooo, this has all the hallmarks of a great drama. Quick! Where's my popcorn?