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Anderson Silva chosen by fans as the UFC Undisputed 3 cover athlete
Reigning middleweight UFC champ (and the guy broadly agreed-upon as the best pound-for-pound fighter currently living in the world right now) Anderson Silva has been voted on by fans to become the cover athlete for UFC Undisputed 3, scheduled for release next January. The decision makes sense for a lot of reasons besides just the vote: Silva is one of the UFC's most popular fighters, and he's been on a streak that's made history and then some, roundly demolishing fighter after fighter in his division with ability that far outweighs most anyone he's ever faced. Silva's last loss was back in 2006, and since then he's gone undefeated in an unheard-of 15 fights, nine of which were title defenses. In short, Anderson "The Spider" Silva isn't just the best guy you'd want on a game about ultimate fighting -- he's the best there is. The game? Oh, um, yeah. We're sure the game is good too.
UFC not banning fighters who sign up for EA's MMA after all
UFC prez Dana White previously said he'd blacklist any fighter who signed up for EA's upcoming mixed martial arts game, EA Sports MMA. And now, Kotaku reports that White is willing to play nice with defectors who chose to be in EA's game -- despite his remaining distaste for the game's publisher. When asked whether White would still ban those fighters participating in EA's game, he told Kotaku he would not. Even with EA being the bigger company, White isn't willing to just roll over and submit. "But believe me this is still going to continue to be a battle," he said. "...they're the me-toos. The UFC game is the original game." White even had some choice words to say about trying to get EA to make a mixed martial arts game. He apparently talked with them in the past about doing one, but EA told him "it's not a real sport" and refused to even take a meeting. So, obviously, White has a bit of a chip on his shoulder -- something we'd say could easily be corrected through a stiff arm bar.
EA Sports MMA drops an elbow full of screenshots onto our lower back
The slow trickle of EA Sports MMA media appears to be picking up again with today's small handful of new shots. EA released a relative pittance of assets in the form of five screenshots (including the Eeyore-inspired headshot you see above). Rather than show off new fighters, the screens instead showcase two long-announced Strikeforce combatants -- Jake Shields and Brett Rogers. Head to the gallery below for both gentlemen in all their polygonal glory. %Gallery-84405%
Fox 'Fight Game' interviews Peter Moore on MMA, war with UFC
Aside from stressing the amount of effort that EA Sports is currently putting into the development of upcoming grappler MMA, Peter Moore had nothing but kind words for the sport while talking to Fight Game host Mike Straka (full interview after the break). The real elephant in the room, though, is clearly the less than wonderful relationship between UFC prez Dana White and Moore's development studio -- but when he was asked about the subject, Moore shrugged it off. "Not really my issue ... Dana [White] had come to EA well before I was there." In addition to doing his best to dodge any flame stoking on Straka's part, Moore pointed out the recent announcement of a newly signed Randy Couture to the game's roster, as well as Jay "The Thoroughbred" Hieron, bringing the MMA player count up to five if our math is right. Applying that same math to the amount of UFC fighters with jobs, the league seems to have just lost two more candidates. Can't we all just get along, fellas?[Thanks, xFenixKnightx!]
UFC president confirms war with EA, blacklisting fighters
UFC President Dana White threw off the gloves at Saturday's UFC 100 event, making heated comments about Electronic Arts and its upcoming title, MMA. White stated that he was literally "at war" with the game company and confirmed the rumored plan to ban/blacklist fighters from UFC if they choose to make appearances in EA's new game.White's anger toward EA stems from accusations that the gaming giant was originally "disgusted" with the thought of making a mixed martial arts title. Said White to MMAJunkie.com: "EA Sports told us, you're not a real sport. We wouldn't touch this thing. We want nothing to do with this." According to White, EA's reversal and attempt at an MMA game is a huge slap in his face and to the fans. "You know what the difference is?" White rhetorically asked. "I'm in the mixed martial arts business. EA isn't. EA doesn't give a [expletive] about mixed martial arts. They made that very clear." It sounds to us like UFC 101 will get an extra match on the card. EA's John Riccitiello versus UFC's Dana White. We'd pay top dollar for that.[Via Kotaku]
