Randy Couture Signs Up for EA Sports MMA

[Andy Chalk]

Randy Couture Signs Up for EA Sports MMA

UFC legend Randy "The Natural" Couture has signed to co-headline EA Sports MMA [http://mma.easports.com/home.action], a deal that will no doubt result in even more F-bombs than usual the next time UFC President Dana White holds a press conference.

Couture, a 16-9 heavyweight, is the only five-time champion in UFC history and is one of the most well-known and popular fighters in the MMA game. While the signing of fellow heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/93520-EA-Sports-MMA-Signs-Fedor], announced in July, gave the game some added heft with die-hard MMA fans, Couture's appearance will no doubt grab the attention of more casual watchers.

"I have been a part of MMA for over 10 years and I am excited about the global visibility that a game like EA Sports MMA will bring to the sport," Couture said in a statement. "Like my fighting career, I look forward to taking on all comers in EA Sports."

Couture's signing isn't exactly a surprise; Dana White revealed that a deal had been made to allow the UFC Hall of Famer to appear in the game despite his UFC 2009 Undisputed [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/93109-UFC-President-Warns-Fighters-Against-EA-Sports-MMA], is probably the sort of complication that White would rather not have to deal with.

Couture seems to think the matter is relatively simple, however, saying he's "free and clear" to appear in the game. "My fight contract has nothing to do with the ancillary stuff that I do outside of that fight contract. So I don't really see it as a conflict," he said. "I know that Dana and others may see it differently, but I don't. I fought hard to maintain my name and rights and ancillary image since Zuffa bought the company in 2000."

""We have nothing but the greatest respect for what Dana has done with the UFC, but he doesn't own the sport. We want to grow the sport," added EA Sports President Peter Moore. "We are not in the business of trying to curtail the business of this sport for our benefit whatsoever. We got into this sport in particular to help it grow, and we see an opportunity to do that against what is obviously a very well-run, very well-organized organization in UFC. But there's room for both of us, no doubt."

EA Sports MMA is slated for release in 2010 on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Source: MMAFighting.com [http://www.mmafighting.com/news/2009/08/15/randy-couture-to-be-featured-ea-sports-mma]


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[cleverlymadeup]

they had said he was going to be in it

the thing is that Dana White can claim not to allow people who are in the game in the UFC but they sure wanted to get Fedor into the UFC and still do

at least we can finally have a Randy vs Fedor match

 

[Baby Tea]

"We got into this sport in particular to help it grow"

What a crock of shit.

They are getting involved to make money and help themselves.
They only "care" about the sport because THQ's game sold extremely well.

I hope the game tanks.

 

[hansari]

So what are the opinions for MMA video games? Are they any good? I have never played one but I like Fight Night...

 

[Susan Arendt]

So what are the opinions for MMA video games? Are they any good? I have never played one but I like Fight Night...

Depends on the individual game. Some are pretty good, others are complete crap.

Will this game be any good? Maybe, but if you can't play as your particular favorite fighter, it's going to lose a little something, no matter how tight the controls are.

As for Couture, he's pretty damn savvy. He knows there's no way White could ever refuse him a UFC bout, he's far too popular and well-known. Chuck Liddell could do the same thing, if he wanted, I bet, maybe even Tito Ortiz.

 

[AceDiamond]

"We got into this sport in particular to help it grow"

What a crock of shit.

They are getting involved to make money and help themselves.
They only "care" about the sport because THQ's game sold extremely well.

I hope the game tanks.

Hi Dana White, how's it going? [/joke]

But seriously since this is EA branching into a new sport instead of giving us yet another retread of something they already made for the past 15 years, I'm in a wait-and-see on this one. I still consider it more of an entertaining coup that White is having his butt kicked so badly after he and his new poster child (Brock Lesnar) ran their mouths.

 

[kickin wiing]

They are getting involved to make money and help themselves.

I'm pretty sure thats what all companies do. Why can't they do both? You know, help the sport grow (which it most likely will) and make money. Unless your just jumping on the "EA is evil" bandwagon.

 

[Frizzle]

They are getting involved to make money and help themselves.

I'm pretty sure thats what all companies do. Why can't they do both? You know, help the sport grow (which it most likely will) and make money. Unless your just jumping on the "EA is evil" bandwagon.

Or maybe they can just pay all the players to only be in their games, and buy any rights that other companies might use. Then they can stagnate the game, and just update the roster every year so that nothing new comes out of it.

And we shall call this game "Madden MMA"

But seriously, EA has been acting less evil lately, but a lot of their games, Madden and their other sports franchises in particular, still don't progress. That, and I agree with Baby Tea

 

[Susan Arendt]

I'm not understanding the "I hope this tanks" philosophy, I'm really not.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

So what are the opinions for MMA video games? Are they any good? I have never played one but I like Fight Night...

the UFC game is actually pretty good, if not a bit complex but then again if you think all that you can do it has to be, just play the tutorial (you get a trophy/achievement for it) and you'll do fine

I'm not understanding the "I hope this tanks" philosophy, I'm really not.

simply put Dana is a dick. he has done a lot for the sport, whether it's good or not is debatable is another thing, but he is a dick