# EA Sports UFC 2
**EA Sports UFC 2** is a mixed martial arts fighting game developed by EA Vancouver and published by [EA Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/ea-sports), released on March 15, 2016 in North America and March 17, 2016 worldwide for [PlayStation 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-4) and [Xbox One](https://www.edgepedia.org/xbox-one).[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx) It is the second entry in EA's UFC series and introduced a physics-driven knockout system, simultaneous two-fighter grappling control, and the series' first Ultimate Team mode.[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bSXHqDYrBw) • [1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | March 15, 2016 (North America), March 17, 2016 (worldwide), on PS4 and Xbox One[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx) |
| Developer | EA Vancouver (EA Canada); creative director Brian Hayes[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx) |
| Roster | More than 250 athletes[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx) |
| Cover stars | UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor and former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx) |
| Signature feature | Physics-driven Knockout Physics System replacing the canned knockout animations of the first game[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/11/13/9724426/one-on-one-with-brian-hayes-creative-director-of-ea-sports-ufc-2) |
| New modes | Knockout Mode, Custom Event Creator, UFC Ultimate Team, and Live Events[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx) |
| Reception | Metascore 76 from 42 critic reviews; user score 5.7 from 131 ratings on Metacritic[4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/ea-sports-ufc-2/) |
## Development
The game was built by the same EA Canada team, led by executive producer and creative director Brian Hayes, that had made the first [EA Sports UFC](https://www.edgepedia.org/ea-sports-ufc) (2014). Hayes described the first game as a foundation-building effort after the team had to discard the gameplay of the earlier THQ-era UFC titles and start over on new consoles; development of the sequel was, in his words, a far different experience.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/11/13/9724426/one-on-one-with-brian-hayes-creative-director-of-ea-sports-ufc-2) [Ronda Rousey](https://www.edgepedia.org/ronda-rousey) was announced as a cover athlete in November 2015, alongside [Conor McGregor](https://www.edgepedia.org/conor-mcgregor).[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/11/13/9724426/one-on-one-with-brian-hayes-creative-director-of-ea-sports-ufc-2) • [1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx)
The roster grew well beyond the first game. Hayes said in late 2015 that even a top-15 fighter in every division would total only about 150 fighters, well under the number the final game would ship with; the released game carries more than 250 athletes.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/11/13/9724426/one-on-one-with-brian-hayes-creative-director-of-ea-sports-ufc-2) • [1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx) The game also reflects the UFC's Reebok-era fight kit, replacing the sponsor apparel customization of earlier titles, with home, away, national color, and champion kit selections.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/11/13/9724426/one-on-one-with-brian-hayes-creative-director-of-ea-sports-ufc-2)
## Gameplay
**Knockout Physics System.** In the first game, every knockout was a canned animation, hand-animated or motion-captured, which looked realistic but was repetitive. [UFC 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-2) replaced this with a procedurally driven system in which knockouts are generated by physics: the direction of the strike, the direction the struck fighter is traveling, momentum, and a simulation of a semi-conscious person trying to maintain balance. No two knockouts are the same, and Hayes compared the results to real knockouts such as [Thomas Almeida](https://www.edgepedia.org/thomas-almeida)'s finish of Anthony Birchak.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/11/13/9724426/one-on-one-with-brian-hayes-creative-director-of-ea-sports-ufc-2)
**Dynamic grappling.** Previous MMA games used a turn-based ground game: the first fighter to initiate a move became the attacker and the other could only defend. UFC 2 allows independent, simultaneous control for both fighters in every grappling situation, so one player can attempt a guard pass while the other tries to stand up in a different direction. EA described this as a first for any MMA game, supported by a large addition of two-fighter animations.[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bSXHqDYrBw) • [3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/11/13/9724426/one-on-one-with-brian-hayes-creative-director-of-ea-sports-ufc-2) A Grapple Assist graphic overlay helps players find their next move in the clinch and on the ground.[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx)
**Submissions and defense.** The submission mini-game from the first game remains largely intact, with added submission chaining, allowing transitions such as from a triangle choke to an armbar where it makes sense, and new submissions from the clinch, including flying armbars and triangle attempts.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/11/13/9724426/one-on-one-with-brian-hayes-creative-director-of-ea-sports-ufc-2) On the feet, the game adds greater control over head movement for slipping and dodging strikes, plus an improved blocking and parrying system.[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bSXHqDYrBw)
## Game modes
The game ships with a mode set aimed at different audiences. Knockout Mode removes clinches, grappling, and submissions in favor of stand-up fighting, an idea that grew out of fan feedback about house rules against ground fighting and from internal debug settings used when capturing knockout-physics videos.[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx) • [3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/11/13/9724426/one-on-one-with-brian-hayes-creative-director-of-ea-sports-ufc-2) UFC Ultimate Team makes its series debut, letting players build a stable of fighters and improve it with earned or purchased card packs.[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx) • [5](https://stevivor.com/reviews/review-ea-sports-ufc-2/) Live Events lets players earn in-game rewards by playing out real-world fight cards before they happen, and Custom Event Creator allows players to build their own cards.[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx) In May 2016, EA added Live Event Competitions, a competitive experience within the Live Events mode.[6](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_news/2016/05/1/970772.pdf)
Career mode was overhauled, with changes to fight offers, training, and the flow between fights, and it now covers both men and women fighters, including the women's strawweight division; it begins on the reality show [The Ultimate Fighter](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-ultimate-fighter) before a fighter climbs the UFC ranks.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/11/13/9724426/one-on-one-with-brian-hayes-creative-director-of-ea-sports-ufc-2) • [7](https://ztgd.com/ea-sports-ufc-2-xb1-review/) Reaching the [UFC Hall of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-hall-of-fame) in Career Mode unlocks all-time fighting legends: [Mike Tyson](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-tyson), UFC Hall-of-Famer Bas Rutten, Kazushi Sakuraba, and Bruce Lee.[1](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx)
## Reception
Critical reception was generally favorable. The game holds a Metascore of 76 based on 42 critic reviews, with zero negative reviews, 33 percent mixed, and 67 percent positive; the user score sits at 5.7 from 131 ratings.[4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/ea-sports-ufc-2/) GameSpot scored it 7 out of 10, praising the knockout physics as the closest a video game had come to capturing the thrill of highlight-reel knockouts, while criticizing the lack of intuitive feedback, barebones tutorials, and a dry career mode, and calling the game a welcome improvement on its predecessor.[8](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ea-sports-ufc-2-review/1900-6416384/) Sporting News wrote that the game was far richer in content and more focused on authenticity than its predecessor.[9](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mma/news/review-ea-sports-ufc-2-conor-mcgregor-ronda-rousey-mma-ea-sports/1p9sy3f02oyhx19x45jfohvfdg) CGMagazine's mixed review objected to microtransactions and a steep learning curve.[4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/ea-sports-ufc-2/)
## Legacy
The physics-based knockouts became the game's most-remembered feature.
## References
1. [Finish the Fight in EA SPORTS UFC 2 Available Now, Electronic Arts press release (March 15, 2016)](https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2016/Finish-the-Fight-in-EA-SPORTS-UFC-2-Available-Now/default.aspx)
2. [EA Sports UFC 2: Gameplay Series - KO Physics, Submissions, Grappling, Defense, official trailer description](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bSXHqDYrBw)
3. [An inside look into EA Sports UFC 2 with series director Brian Hayes, MMA Fighting (November 13, 2015)](https://www.mmafighting.com/2015/11/13/9724426/one-on-one-with-brian-hayes-creative-director-of-ea-sports-ufc-2)
4. [EA Sports UFC 2 Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/ea-sports-ufc-2/)
5. [Review: EA Sports UFC 2, Stevivor](https://stevivor.com/reviews/review-ea-sports-ufc-2/)
6. [EA SPORTS UFC 2 Introduces All New Competitive Gaming Experience, EA press release (May 12, 2016)](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_news/2016/05/1/970772.pdf)
7. [EA Sports UFC 2 (XB1) Review, ZTGD](https://ztgd.com/ea-sports-ufc-2-xb1-review/)
8. [EA Sports UFC 2 Review, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ea-sports-ufc-2-review/1900-6416384/)
9. [Review: EA Sports UFC 2 is a much-needed improvement on original, Sporting News](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mma/news/review-ea-sports-ufc-2-conor-mcgregor-ronda-rousey-mma-ea-sports/1p9sy3f02oyhx19x45jfohvfdg)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Individual game titles › Individual PlayStation-platform game titles › Fighting, platforming, and horror games*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license